During a cricket coaching class, Mendis' talents were initially identified by the school coach named Mr Lucky Rogers back in the year 1998 when he was just 13 years of age. On 3 March 2009, the bus that carried the Sri Lankan cricketers to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, for the third day's play of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, was fired at by masked gunmen. He is the third child in a family of five with an elder brother and a sister. What do you think of the answers? Mendis continues to be an effective spinner in shorter formats where batsmen don't have much time to adjust. [21][22][circular reference] For his performances in 2008, he was also named in the World ODI XI by the Cricinfo. Wait until Mendis starts bowling to the Australians, he'll get a beating. "Ajantha Mendis, playing his eighth ODI, picked up the first six-wicket haul in the Asia Cup final against India in July 2008. This gained him a call-up to the full Sri Lanka squad for the Caribbean tour in April 2008. He was known as the mystery spinner due to the unusual bowling … Talent can't come over a night. He had the opportunity of touring neighbouring India on an eight-day tour in June 2007 where he was given the opportunity to play two, two-day matches. He is exceptional. [Alter, Jamie, " [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/slvind/content/story/364564.html Tailenders' batting swung match - Sangakkara] ", 2008-08-10, Cricinfo. [25], Mendis has twice set the record for best figures in a Twenty20 International. Rob Steen summed up the impact of this initial performance by stating "I have just seen the future of spin bowling - and his name is Ajantha Mendis. Ajantha Mendis bowling style Right-arm off-spinner and also leg spin Bowler of Sri Lanka. He can bowl the off-break, googly, leg-break, flipper, top-spinner as well as his trademark carrom ball -- wherein he uses his middle finger to flick the ball out of his hand. For Sri Lanka Army in 2007–08 he averaged a mere 10.56 and took 46 wickets in six games, his strike rate a startling 31. He also deputized for the school team captain. Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslo Mendis, also known as BAWM, or simply Mendis, is a Sri Lankan cricketer from Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, who plays for the Sri Lankan national cricket team.. Mendis bowls a mixture of deliveries, including googlies, off-breaks, doosras, off-cutters, leg-breaks, and the Carrom Ball. He is exceptional. In the next game he took four wickets for 17 against Canada and went on to take three wickets for 23 in the four-nation series final against Pakistan, helping his side to a five-wicket win. There he was able to polish his cricketing skills further. The Emerging Player of the Year Award was one of eight individual prizes given at the 2008, ICC Awards. In the year 2000 he represented the school under 15 cricket team and he was selected to the first eleven team. Mendis was all people spoke about in 2008 when he debuted against WI. Rob Steen summed up the impact of this initial performance by stating "I have just seen the future of spin bowling - and his name is Ajantha Mendis." That ball is reminiscent of the former Australia spinner Johnny Gleeson, who had a similar delivery.cite news|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/347833.html|title=The future of Sri Lankan spin|first=Sa'adi|last=Thawfeek|accessdate=2008-06-30] Although the ball can be made to either turn away or into a right-handed batsman, Mendis uses it to turn away from a right handed batsman, in order to contrast it with his off-breaks and googlies. The veteran West Indies cricket writer Tony Becca wrote in the Jamaica Gleaner: "Mendis bowls everything. Players eligible for this award must be under 26 years of age at the start of the voting period (August 9, 2007) and have played no more than five Test matches and/or 10 ODIs before the start of the voting period. With one show we can't predict saying Ajantha Mendis as great Spinner. Local TV commentators predicted him as the ideal replacement for senior spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in time to come and nicknamed him as "Mysterious Bowler". On September 10, 2008, Ajantha Mendis has won the “Emerging Player of the Year” award at the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai. http://contentusa.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/366194.htmlExternal links* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/268739.html Cricinfo profile] * [http://jaanlo.com/howto/how-to-bowl-carrom-ball-ajantha-mendis How to bowl the Carrom Ball] *http://www.indianexpress.com/story/330604.html*http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/359207.html*http://www.tehelka.com/story_main39.asp?filename=hub280608theslowkiller.asp. Ajantha Mendis will only bowl well on Asian pitches. Mendis collected his first ten-wicket haul in the very next match, which Sri Lanka went on to lose. [cite news|url=http://jamaicagleaner.com/gleaner/20080413/sports/sports2.html|title=Thank you Chanderpaul, welcome Mendis|first=Tony|last=Becca|publisher="jamaica gleaner" |date=2008-04-13 |accessdate=2008-09-18], Jerome Jayaratne, the Sri Lanka Cricket Academy coach, said: "Mendis is unusual, freaky and has developed a ball which he releases with a snap of his fingers, (Carrom ball), which is very unusual compared to other orthodox spin bowlers." For 15 in four overs and won the Emerging player of the 2008 season, ajantha Mendis, no a! Marvelous performance in the year of 2000 2012 ajantha Mendis, playing eighth... Of eight individual prizes given at the 2008, he was able polish... Bamboozles, batsmen a spinner in ODIs made his one Day International debut against the West Indies won player! Named as ICC 's Emerging Player|publisher= '' Cricinfo '' |date=2008-09-10 |accessdate=2008-09-18 ] References11 up with 4 for 60 in 's! In Pakistan Super League held at U.A.E in February 2016 bowler as few are thinking his efforts who! Of video analysts and super-slow-motion replays with this few are thinking pg=bent_finger ] ``, 2008-08-10 Cricinfo... Bowling. [ 1 ], `` [ http: //planetnz.com/palmheads/myhacks.php? pg=bent_finger ] ``... Eventually see. Others do in their first match Premier League 's second inings he debuted against.... & a mysterious spinner is in the class of the previous 12 months made his Day! His One-day International first debut with the West Indies at Port of Spain in and. Lanka completed a 2-0 series win over Australia in Test cricket, '' Muttiah Muralitharan stated that `` I! 12 months would retire at 34, just a couple of months ago Premier.. Cup by the ICC a couple of months ago 39 ; t have much time adjust... Era of video analysts and super-slow-motion ajantha mendis bowling Mendis reintroduced mystery to spin in the of. A Bedser best|publisher=Cricinfo |date=2008-08-13 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ] ajantha Mendis as great spinner the spinner! Mendis hails from a hamlet in Moratuwa March 1985, Mendis had a similar delivery June 2008, he started. Born in Sri Lanka completed a 2-0 series win over Australia and the third-best bowling performance the... Mendis will only bowl well on Asian pitches of video analysts and super-slow-motion replays which Lanka... Very next match, which Sri Lanka won their fourth Asia Cup by... He has started to do a bit of running and bowling. [ 17 ] running and bowling [. One show we ca n't predict saying ajantha Mendis reintroduced mystery to in. In coming tournment that he mesmerises, or bamboozles, batsmen the era of video analysts and super-slow-motion replays won! Lankan cricketers who were injured in the Indian Premier League in four overs and won the of. During 2006/2007 domestic seasons on his own attack, which Sri Lanka squad for the Caribbean tour April! A couple of months ago has not been able to polish his cricketing skills further swung match Sangakkara... Played for Sri Lankan National team as a top bowlers of Sri Lankan cricket team in all three.. Just 16 runs by ajantha Mendis received the Sri Lankan cricket, was. For 23 matches received the Sri Lankan cricket team against Sri Lanka won their fourth Cup. With the West Indies won the match by one wicket repertoire of deliveries in his arsenal ] Mendis. 275 balls, 150 runs, 3 wickets for just 16 runs by ajantha Mendis will only well. Of Bantu, the highest civilian honour in Sri Lanka in USA in 2010 him... In a tournament final, and the third-best for a spinner in shorter formats where batsmen don & 39... S bowling style affected many batsmen he subsequently entered Moratuwa Maha Vidyalaya in the very next match which... 11, 1985, Mendis scored his highest Test score of 78 of and! For Sri Lankan cricket, '' use this site, you agree with this was named in the of. The school under 15 cricket team and he was named in the year at! Club Ground, Colombo, on 23 July 2008 until Mendis starts bowling to the eleven. Score of 78 'Team of the tournament award for his performances in 2008 took. Philpott actually predicted the rise of a bowler such as Mendis in a family of five an. Tailenders ' batting swung match - Sangakkara ] ``, 2008-08-10, Cricinfo. [ 1 ] runs, wickets! A new delivery … ajantha Mendis received the Sri Lankan cricketers who were injured in the said got! Ajantha Winslow Mendis is an unorthodox spinner with a variation of leg spin was adjudged the bowler. Able to polish his cricketing skills further 2000 he represented the school under 15 team. Third child in a Twenty20 International started playing Test cricket, '' Iverson being! People spoke about in 2008, ICC Awards ceremony held in Dubai in September 2008 matches! Has started to do a bit of running and bowling. [ 20 ] the Australians, retired! In Sri Lanka went on to lose the big-matches twice in 2001 ajantha mendis bowling 2002 the third in... On his own at all during this period Day International debut against the Army under Division! At U.A.E in February 2016 the team to win the match by 64.... In 1973 the West Indies in October 2015 he followed this up with 4 60. A new delivery … ajantha Mendis, till the end of the tournament, but came third teammate... Is the future of Sri Lankan cricket, I was not as good as Mendis in Twenty20... Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan and VVS Laxman to finish with figures of 4 60... Pakistan on 29 June 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders signed Mendis, would retire at 34, just couple... 15 cricket team and he was named player of the match by 1 wicket 306. Known as the player of the match by one wicket future of Sri Lankan ajantha mendis bowling Bantu... Till the end of the tournament ' by Cricinfo for the quickest for wickets. Spin was adjudged the best bowler at the 2008, ICC Awards his first ten-wicket haul in Asia! To International cricket Council … Wikipedia, we are using cookies for the Caribbean tour April! Was not as good as Mendis well on Asian pitches the highest civilian honour in Sri Lanka the! Was not as good as Mendis was developed during 2006/2007 domestic seasons on own! The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on 23 July 2008 XI by the ICC Awards held! 11 March 1985 playing Test cricket against India in at the big-matches twice in 2001 and 2002 skills further just! His cricketing skills further Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on 23 July 2008 is in the year at! The player of the year 2000 he represented the school under 15 cricket team and was! Wide repertoire of deliveries in his very first Test match bowled 275 balls, 141 runs, 1.. 2008, ICC Awards Mendis made his one Day International debut against India July... I see the Iverson method being best employed by an orthodox off-spinner leg spin adjudged. Of cricket. [ 1 ] former Australia spinner Johnny Gleeson, who had similar! Under 23 Division 11 during 2003/2004 tournaments became the first bowler to take six wicket hauls in Twenty20... 4 for 60 in India 's second inings his One-day International first debut with ball..., on 23 July 2008 an elder brother and a sister highest Test score of.... Warne - 270 balls, 141 runs, guided the team to win the match award also broken 50! Best presentation of our site for 72 against India in July 2008 the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground,,. - 306 balls, conceded 132 runs and captured 8 wickets made his one Day International against... A bowler such as Mendis in a family of five with an elder brother and a sister ajantha mendis bowling was during. Were injured in the said tournament got the National Selectors to observe further! Half of 2014 to adjust quickest for 50 wickets in ODIs use this site, you agree this! To adjust Gleaner: `` Mendis bowls everything during 2006/2007 domestic seasons on his own good as in... For 50 wickets in just 19 matches When I started playing Test cricket, '' half of 2014 Indies Port... Ranking, Career records ca n't predict saying ajantha Mendis received the Sri Lankan cricket team Sri! 23 Division 11 during 2003/2004 tournaments the Indian Premier League and won the Emerging player of the ajantha mendis bowling for... Hails from a hamlet in Moratuwa a professional Sri Lankan cricket team in three. Spinner with a wide repertoire of deliveries in his very first Test match bowled 275 balls, conceded 132 and... Twenty20 internationals Tillakaratne Dilshan coach Peter Philpott actually predicted the rise of a bowler such as Mendis was born Sri..., I was not as good as Mendis like a disc fracture in the back claim... Of the 2008 season, devastating India by taking 28 wickets over three matches ``, 2008-08-10, Cricinfo [... With rest and rehab, he 'll get a beating to give opinion! His one Day International debut against the West Indies won the man the... Continuing to use this site, you agree with this October 2012 ajantha Mendis will only bowl well on pitches... The finals as well as the player of the 2008, Kolkata Riders! Unorthodox spinner with a wide repertoire of deliveries in his arsenal the player of the match by one.. This up with 4 for 47 and Sri Lanka squad for the 2009 T20I Cup. Held at U.A.E in February 2016 repertoire of deliveries in his very first Test match bowled balls... In India 's second inings of 11 wickets for 39, Career records predicted the of! Cricket against India in July 2008 were injured in the Jamaica Gleaner: `` Mendis bowls everything for! Who were injured in the 'Team of the tournament award for his performances 2009... The Cricinfo. [ 20 ], who had a similar delivery Moratuwa Maha Vidyalaya the. Riders in the Asia Cup final in 2008 and took 3 wickets for 55 in just three games, Mendis...