Ajantha Mendis

Profile

When he first arrived on the international stage, Ajantha Mendis was an absolute nightmare to opposition batsmen. Even his teammates who practiced with him in the nets for hours conceded that they had little idea what was to come out from those hands. Comparisons to the legendary Murali were evident and very early in his career Mendis was expected to shoulder his country’s huge expectations once the master bowed into the sunset.

Mendis was a phenomenon at a very young age and was adjudged the best bowler two years in a row while playing for his school’s Under-15 side. Having impressed the Sri Lankan Army Committee in a game against their Under-23 division, he was offered a position in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. After playing only 23 limited-over matches and 59 two to three-day games, he had picked up a mind-boggling 282 wickets. Everyone concerned realised Mendis’ rare talent seeing him take 68 wickets in just 9 matches in the Sri Lankan domestic tournament in 2008 and he was immediately inducted into Sri Lanka’s ODI team.

On his debut against West Indies, he took 3 wickets for 39 runs. However, Mendis unveiled his mastery in the Asia Cup final against India and ripped through the famed batting order prizing 6 wickets in a mesmerizing spell of spin bowling. Sri Lanka went on to win the match by a landslide. In his debut Test series against India, the then most experienced Test batting line-up made no difference to him as he took 26 wickets at an average of just 18.38 which won Sri Lanka the series and also hurt the ego of a nation renowned for producing the best players of spin bowling. His stock delivery is the off spin but he can bowl top spinners, flippers, googlies and just about anything at different paces and action including the carrom ball which he releases with his middle finger. His greatest attribute however is his accuracy and the absolute control with which he bowls these deliveries. With time and modern video analysis, the mystery about him faded and with opposition batsmen picking him, he started to struggled a bit. Despite that, Mendis remains one of Sri Lanka’s most prized possession of spin bowlers in recent times.

Fast Facts

• Ajantha Mendis became the first Sri Lankan bowler to claim 8 wickets on Test debut which he achieved against India in 2008.
• He claimed 68 wickets in just 9 matches in the domestic Sri Lankan tournament which is a record in any form of cricket.
• With 26 wickets, Mendis passed Alec Bedser's world record for most wickets on debut in a three-match series.
• He won the ‘ICC Emerging Player of the Year’ award in 2008.
• Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to take a five-wicket haul and the first player to have taken a six-wicket haul in T20Is.

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Career

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