And then there was Mendis

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

January 3, 2009

A new dawn: Mendis has already almost taken over the mantle of main match-winner for Sri Lanka © AFP

Two thousand eight, according to Chinese astrology, was the Year of the Rat. For Sri Lanka cricket, it was the year of Ajantha Mendis.

The 23-year-old burst into the limelight in the Caribbean in April, bemusing the best of West Indies batsmen, who were at sea against the five varieties of spin he bowled. When Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene threw the ball to Mendis in the first one-day international, in Port-of-Spain, little did anyone realise that it would herald a new genre of spin.

Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan came into the limelight at a time when the art of spin bowling was dying. In the next 15 years or so they raised it to a level it had never attained before. But nothing lasts forever. Warne left the game in 2007 and Muralitharan is nearing the end of the road. The old fears were back that spin would become a dying art. Then came Mendis.

Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies allrounder, recalled his first sighting: "[Ramnaresh] Sarwan had problems picking him, and from the time we saw this, most of the batsmen retreated to the dressing room and had a close look at his hand on the TV monitor." However, the best quote came from Rob Steen, on Cricinfo: "I have just seen the future of spin bowling - and his name is Ajantha Mendis."

Mendis really came into the limelight in his second ODI series, the Asia Cup in Pakistan, where he spun his team to a remarkable 100-run victory over favourites India in the final in Lahore.

He continued to torment the Indian batting when they toured Sri Lanka for a three-Test series and lost it 2-1. The difference was Mendis, who broke a 62-year-old record, held by England fast bowler Alec Bedser, by taking the most wickets in a debut series - 26. The strong Indian batting line-up of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman was left so bemused by the mystics of Mendis' spin that they managed only three fifties between them.

With Mendis catching so much world attention it was no surprise when he won the ICC's Emerging Player of the Year award.

In a rather restricted Test calendar year, where Sri Lanka played fewer Test matches (six) than even Bangladesh (nine), the most memorable were their first Test victory in the Caribbean, by 121 runs in Guyana, and the home series win over India. The hero of the Guyana victory was Chaminda Vaas, who once again showed that he still had enough steam left, even at the age of 34, to spearhead his team to victory: he had a match haul of eight wickets to go with his unbeaten half-century. A fortnight later Vaas was cast in the villain's role when he conceded a four and then a six off the last two deliveries of the match to Shiv Chanderpaul as West Indies pulled off a stunning victory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.

While Sri Lanka continued to impress in the longer game, their unpredictable batting was a cause for concern in the limited-overs matches, where they continued to lose bilateral contests but managed to come out on top in tournaments - the most remarkable of those was the victory in the Asia Cup. On a more low-key note, they also pocketed the tri-nation T20 Canada, beating Pakistan in the final.

The arrival of the Indian Premier League and the rebel Indian Cricket League benefited Sri Lanka's present and former cricketers with monetary gains of the sort SLC could never dream of matching. Overall, 15 of Sri Lanka's top cricketers were signed in both tournaments.

Sri Lanka's women cricketers once again had to be satisfied with the runner-up title when they lost the Asia Cup final, held in Sri Lanka, to India. Pakistan and Bangladesh were the other participating countries. The Sri Lankan women, however, gained some consolation later in the year when they defeated West Indies 3-2 in a thrilling five-match one-day series at home. Opening bat Dedunu Silva and the captain, Shashikala Siriwardena, entered the top 20 of the ICC ODI women's batting rankings for the first time.

First blood: Sri Lanka celebrate their maiden Test win in the West Indies © AFP

On the domestic front Sri Lanka's cricket continued to falter under an interim administration. When former captain and present politician Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed chairman, replacing businessman Jayantha Dharmadasa, by the country's president, there was plenty of hope that with his vast cricketing experience Ranatunga would put Sri Lankan cricket, which has been plagued in the past by alleged misappropriation of funds, on the right track. But Ranatunga fell out with the national team over the IPL contracts, and then made unwarranted remarks against the Indian board, which soured the good long-standing relationship the two countries had enjoyed over the years. He had constant clashes with the sports minister, whom he accused of not allowing him to do a proper job. By the end of the year everything pointed to a change in administration, with either a new interim committee being appointed or elections being held.

New kid on the block
Ajantha Mendis, who promises to become Sri Lankan cricket's new chief match-winner, succeeding Muttiah Muralitharan, who has held the mantle for many years.

Fading star
Workhorse Chaminda Vaas began the year on a high, bowling his country to their first Test victory in the Caribbean, but has struggled since to keep his place against a whole crop of youngsters breathing down his neck.

High point
Following a poor one-day series in Australia, and a 2-0 loss to West Indies in the Caribbean, Sri Lanka were under pressure to perform in the Asia Cup. They did it in magnificent style, beating India in the final.

Low point
Losing the first ODI to West Indies to a last-ball six when victory was well within grasp.

What 2009 holds
An unscheduled tour to Pakistan for three Tests will boost Sri Lanka's output for the year to 10 Test matches - possibly 13 if they tour India later in the year. The year begins with the second Test against Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan, whom they will play away and at home in six Tests. They also host New Zealand for a three-Test series.

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Dilshan's all-round display seals series for Sri Lanka - Ajantha took 3/57

The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran

January 6, 2009

Sri Lanka 384 (Dilshan 162, Kapugedera 96, Shakib 4-109) & 447 for 6 dec (Dilshan 143, Samaraweera 77, Kapugedera 59*, Sangakkara 54) beat Bangladesh 208 (Mashrafe 63, Mendis 4-71, Muralitharan 3-62) and 158 (Shakib 46, Mushfiqur 43, Dilshan 4-10, Mendis 3-57) by 465 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made centuries in each innings and took 4 for 10, was both Man of the Match and the series © AFP

This was a match Tillakaratne Dilshan made his own. He set up Sri Lanka with 162 and 143 and completed the job by wiping out the Bangladesh lower-order and finishing with figures of 4 for 10 to wrap up the series 2-0 and script the fifth-biggest margin of victory in Tests in terms of runs. Set an improbable 624 to win in five sessions, Bangladesh wilted first to the spin of Ajantha Mendis before Dilshan struck. It was all over in two sessions.

It could have ended even earlier but Sri Lanka delayed their declaration till lunch, by when their lead stretched to mammoth proportions. The expected tactic in the morning was to allow Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera to reach their respective hundreds before declaring, though only one of them managed to do so. The declaration came after Chamara Kapugedera reached his second half-century of the match and the lead stretched beyond 600.

Bangladesh were left to chase 521 in Mirpur and made a fist of it thanks to telling contributions by three batsmen. Mushfiqur Rahim, the only common link between that game and this, was left to steer a sinking ship on his own. With the target out of reach, the best Bangladesh could have done was to save the game but Mushfiqur, in the end, was had too much to do.

A strong and steady start was required from the openers but the only promising element was a textbook cover drive by Tamim Iqbal off Dilhara Fernando in the second over. The excitement was short-lived when both openers perished with just 22 on board. Mahela Jayawardene went in for the kill by introducing Mendis in the eighth over and he struck immediately, getting Imrul Kayes to edge to first slip. Tamim fell in identical fashion to his first-innings dismissal, edging Chaminda Vaas to the wicketkeeper and it was the curtain raiser to an all too familiar story.

The incoming batsmen weren't allowed to settle in as Mahela crowded fielders around them, something his counterpart Mohammad Ashraful failed to pick up on yesterday. Slips were employed for the spinners but the placement was different for Dilhara Fernando. Due to the slow nature of the surface, the possibility of slip catches were unlikely, so Mahela stationed them in close catching positions on the on side at silly mid-on, short square-leg and short midwicket. Though the fielders didn't necessarily come in to play, one could sense that Mahela was trying to make things happen and that may have psychologically played a part in Bangladesh caving in.

Junaid Siddique was trapped in front off Mendis and Ashraful, trying to cut loose, failed to pick the googly off the same bowler. Raqibul Hasan was then squared up by a deadly reverse swinging yorker from Fernando. At that stage Bangladesh had lost half their side for 52 and the prospect of wrapping up the game by the afternoon was inevitable.

The decibel levels went up when Mushfiqur and Shakib Al Hasan came together and added 92 for the sixth wicket. Shakib had a packed off side field that he pierced with firm punches off the backfoot off Fernando. In such an insoluble situation, attack seemed the best form of defence. He picked on their best bowler, Mendis, by regularly making room, targeting him on the off side and straight down the ground. Mushfiqur was solid in defence off a very off-colour Muttiah Muralitharan, who didn't quite possess the sting and bite of his partner Mendis.

Mushfiqur tucked away deliveries with the turn and pushed the singles while his partner took the aggressive route. Dilshan was introduced just before the final drinks break and drew Shakib forward with the flight, only to have him stumped off Prasanna Jayawardene, whose glovework has improved this series. Dilshan fired his offbreaks from round the wicket and sliced through the tail with the same exuberance he displayed with the bat. The adjudicators for the Man of the Match and series couldn't have had it easier.

He missed the chance to score two scores of 150 plus in a Test when he was squared up by a brute of a delivery from Enamul Haque Jnr which spun from the rough outside the legstump, skidded and clipped the offstump before he could even react. When he slashed Shahadat Hossain past backward point, he joined Duleep Mendis, Aravinda de Silva, Asanka Gurusingha in the list of Sri Lanka batsmen who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test.

His overnight partner Samaraweera wasn't so fortunate to record a century as he was trapped on the backfoot by a vicious delivery by Shakib which turned square. Kapugedera charged the spinners, threw them off balance with reverse sweeps and paddles and marched on to record a half-century. A declaration was expected after he got to his fifty but curiously, there were no signs of it before lunch. The field was spread out and the whole situation seemed very farcical as the batsmen blocked their way till the interval. It seemed as if Bangladesh's brave attempt at 521 in Mirpur had prompted Mahela to delay the declaration and an amused Ashraful was seen chuckling. By the afternoon though, he wasn't smiling any more.

Kanishkaa Balachandran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo

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Mendis leaves Bangladesh in disarray

Cricinfo staff

January 4, 2009

Sri Lanka 384 (Dilshan 162, Kapugedera 96, Warnapura 63, Shakib 4-109) and 13 for 0 lead Bangladesh 208 (Mortaza 63, Mendis 4-71) by 189 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Mashrafe Mortaza guided Bangladesh away from an embarrassing follow-on on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong. His crucial 63, which came off 89 balls and included eight boundaries and two sixes, came at a time when he was joined by last man Shahdat Hossain, still needing 49 runs to avoid the follow-on.

While Mashrafe undertook the bulk of the scoring , a resolute Shahdat helped Bangladesh save face as they not only went past the follow-on but helped reduce the deficit to 176 runs, which looked improbable earlier.

The difficult situation had been created by the lack of application from the batsmen who threw away their wickets in a hurry. And with Chaminda Vaas, along the spin duo of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan, on song, matters kept getting worse.

Chaminda Vaas had done the damage early on removing both openers - Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes - as the hosts got off on the wrong foot. Mendis, who had missed the first Test, made an impressive return to end as the most successful bowler with 4 for 71, as Muralitharan ended with 3 for 62.

Sri Lanka's opening pair of Malinda Warnapura and Prasanna Jayawardene then safely negotiated the five overs to take the score to 13 for no loss at stumps.

	Mehrab Hossain jnr was one of Ajantha Mendis' victims © AFP

Ajantha Mendis found Test cricket easy in his first series against India last year, bamboozling their high-quality middle-order, and he was on song in Chittagong against the less formidable Bangladesh. Showing no signs of the ankle injury which kept him out of the first Test, he picked three wickets, including that of Shakib Al Hasan for a golden duck, to leave Bangladesh staring at a huge first-innings deficit at tea.

Chaminda Vaas provide the early breakthroughs with the new ball, running in hard and getting movement off the pitch to trouble the openers. Tamim Iqbal fell in the first over, nicking a Vaas delivery that jagged away. The other opener, Imrul Kayes, survived a while longer but was done in by a Vaas indipper in the ninth over.

Mendis was brought into the attack as early as the tenth over, and though he wasn't getting too much turn it took him only a couple of overs to strike - Raqibul Hasan was trapped by a well-flighted, straight delivery.

Mohammad Ashraful and Junaid Siddique put up some resistance, using contrasting methods to blunt Mendis. Ashraful chose to play late after gauging the turn while Junaid regularly lunged forward to smother the spin. The partnership was broken when Junaid failed to pick a yorker from Dilhara Fernando, making a return to the Test side after more than a year on the sidlelines.

Mendis then had Mehrab Hossain jnr and Shakib lbw off successive balls and Bangladesh were tottering at 90 for 6, with their last recognised batting pair of Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim at the crease. Ashraful was patient against Mendis but had several moments of indiscretion against Muttiah Muralitharan. Three botched reverse-sweeps didn't deter him from attempting the shot again when on 45, and it only resulted in a simple catch for Prasanna Jayawardene.

Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 16 but the Bangladesh batsmen had undone the good work of the bowlers earlier in the day. Shakib had helped Bangladesh make a promising start, taking three wickets in two overs to nip out the Sri Lankan tail early.

Chamara Kapugedera resumed on 93 but didn't reach his maiden Test century, falling lbw to Shakib on 96 in the day's first over. Mashrafe Mortaza also chipped in with the wicket of Chaminda Vaas and Sri Lanka folded for 384, with Shakib returning figures of 4 for 109.

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