The Sri Lanka Army came in to his aid. I am not sure if injuries impacted his effectiveness as well. With teams tackling his main weapon, Mendis was ineffective. He went onto break Sir Alec Bedser’s World Record, that had stood for more than 50 years, for most wickets in a debut series. He claimed four for 15 in four overs and won the man of the match award. Locals say that Moratuwa is famous for ABC " Arrack, Baila, and cricket. The carrom ball is delivered by flicking the thumb and middle finger. When he sends down long hops and full tosses no one travels faster. Haven't heard anything about him for some time. [1], "...Eventually I see the Iverson method being best employed by an I think he out of Sri Lanka national team and out of … orthodox off-spin, there is a great future for an accurate off-spinner who Bingalee. He is exceptional. Masakadza b A Mendis 20 Ajantha's impact has been immense. His 6 for 13 is the third-best bowling performance in a tournament final, and the third-best for a spinner in ODIs. He also played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Usually it is the fast bowlers who instill fear in batsmen. Ajantha Mendis is an unorthodox spinner with a wide repertoire of deliveries in his arsenal. where is he ?? [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, to contrast it with his off-breaks and googlies. Ajantha Mendis, the quickest player to take 50 ODI wickets, has retired from all forms of cricket according to the ICC. 0 0? He seems to have vanished from the scene now, not playing any games even in the IPL. [15], During 2008 Asia Cup, Mendis made his mark with match winning bowling performance, which took him to won the player of the series of award as well. Mendis will be remembered for the torrid time he gave the Indians. Ajantha Mendis wheels away in celebration after dismissing Irfan Pathan. The 34 … 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 announced his arrival on the international stage with three for 39 off 10 overs in this game, and dumbfounded the West Indian batsmen with his range of variations without a perceptible change in his action. He was raised Catholic. 1 decade ago. Sri Lanka won their fourth Asia cup title by 100 runs.[17]. 1 decade ago. [5], Following basic training he played for the army team and saw active military service as a Gunner in the Sri Lanka Artillery,[5] a regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Mendis has represented the Army in 23 limited over matches and 59 two/three-day matches, in which he has 38 wickets and 244 wickets respectively to his credit. Comments. He has also broken fastest 50 wicket record in ODI, previously held by Ajit Agarkar of India for 23 matches. All rights reserved. His performance in the said tournament got the National Selectors to observe him further closely, after he became the most successful bowler by taking 68 wickets in nine matches which is also a record in any form of domestic cricket. The veteran West Indies cricket writer Tony Becca wrote in the Jamaica Gleaner: "Mendis bowls everything. His companions and competitors are aware of his progress too. 1 2. ‘Trump will brag’: How Q3 GDP may affect the election. He shot to fame from almost nowhere, played his part as a Sri Lankan match-winning spin bowler in all his grace and humility. I could The ball pitched on leg-stump and turned sharply towards the off-stump. Lv 4. He smashed a huge six to Johnson Charles for a free hit, through long-on to reach his highest ODI score of unbeaten 21 runs. His 17 wickets is the best for an edition of the Asia Cup, and he bagged those wickets at an astounding average of 8.52. The 'Carrom Ball' was once a potent weapon owing to the batsman's inability determine if Mendis would spin it in to them, or move it away. Mendis, although classified as slow-medium, bowls a mixture of deliveries, including googlies, off-breaks, top-spinners, flippers and leg-breaks, as well as the carrom ball, released with a flick of his middle finger. 4 Answers. (courtesy espncricinfo.com). Moratuwa has produced some of Sri Lankan cricket's brightest talents " Duleep Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Ajantha Mendis to name a few. 0. The criterion for national selection is performing in elite domestic tournament or for Sri Lanka ‘A’. There was little doubt when he came into the scene that Sri Lanka had found someone to fill the big shoes of Muttiah Muralitharan. Other teams soon followed suit and the mystery was decoded. 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. [29], 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." 7:27. The Australian Test cricketer and coach Peter Philpott actually predicted the rise of a bowler such as Mendis in a book written in 1973. Indians first decoded Mendis mystery. It was a huge gamble when he was picked to play the Asia Cup. Ajantha Mendis 8 wickets on test debut (4 in each innings) - Duration: 7:27. cricketanytime2 254,527 views. He did not have the fortune of a lavish retirement but Mendis bowed out a player who demanded nothing but reached iconic sporting immortality. Anonymous. Hamilton Masakadza, knowing he had to up the pace, went for the … Following this he was invited to enlist in the regular force of the Sri Lanka Army, this was particularly due to the low number of cricketers from Colombo schools joining the Army in the recent years. It was that element of uncertainty that made Mendis what he is today. JUST IN Ajantha Mendis has retired from all forms of cricket! Unfortunately afterwards Ajantha mendis could not become the same bowler he once was. Where is he? He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' by Cricinfo for the 2009 T20I World Cup. That ball is reminiscent of the former Australia spinner Johnny Gleeson, who had a similar delivery. Sort by. Ajantha Mendis, no more a mystery! Wikipedia. [31], "Ajantha Mendis retires from all forms of cricket", "Records – Twenty20 matches – Bowling records – Best figures in an innings", "Catholics pray for Sri Lankan cricketers following attack", "Ajantha Mendis is the sorcerer's apprentice", "Soldier creating history in International cricket", Army’s Sensational Spinner Ajantha Mendis Promoted, Sri Lanka Army, "Promotion for new cricketing hero, Ajantha, Ministry of Defence", "IPL6 T20 player auction 'live' coverage: Mumbai pay $1 million for all-rounder; RCB feast on quickies", "Jayasuriya faces axe for West Indies series", "Jayasuriya left out of West Indies ODIs", "We need to make a plan against Mendis: Bravo", "Chanderpaul clinches final-ball thriller", "2nd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of West Indies at Port of Spain, Apr 12 2008", "Mendis spins Sri Lanka to title triumph", "Tailenders' batting swung match – Sangakkara", http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2008/content/story/385077.html, http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/427665.html, 2014 LG ICC Awards#ICC ODI Team of the Year, http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-west-indies-2015-16/content/story/935415.html, http://www.espncricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/410204.html, https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/finalists-dominate-icc-mens-and-womens-world-twenty20-sri-lanka-2012-teams-of-the-tournament, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/icc-world-t20-2016/top-stories/Mystery-faded-matured-Ajantha-Mendis-bides-time/articleshow/48753127.cms, The Mystery Spinner, Ajantha Mendis' first Test wicket, 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, Comparison of three different deliveries by Ajantha Mendis (the carrom ball is referred to as a doosra here), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ajantha_Mendis&oldid=1001169285, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 14:52. Mendis had none of that as Army was playing in lower divisions. Your name . Poor form and being in and out of team. Back injury - Injuries have killed many careers and for a bowler a back injury is kind of certain career death. The 34 … He was a big fan of sports and business professionals. Where is he? When India were on the verge of winning the Aisa Cup 2008 finals, the Mendis Magic picked up 6 wickets sending to hut all the prolific Indian Batsmen and only giving 13 runs. For his remarkable performance of 11 wickets for 55 in just three games, Ajantha Mendis was adjudged the player of the series. Mendis came on to bat and scored a magnificent 21 runs, guided the team to win the match by 1 wicket. Slick. In August 2019, he retired from all … Ajantha mendis will be most fered bowler within 2 years . Why is he performing so bad? Until February 2017, he was the only bowler to have taken six wickets in a Twenty20 International, and he has achieved the feat twice, claiming the world record figures of 6 wickets for 8 runs for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe on 18 September 2012 which was later broken by Deepak Chahar in 2019. Ajantha Mendis provided the same thrills albeit during a short span. [26] The following year, on 18 September 2012 in the opening match of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 against Zimbabwe, Mendis bettered this record by taking six wickets for eight runs. Born on 11 March 1985, Mendis hails from a hamlet in Moratuwa. He made several comebacks, but the effectiveness wasn’t there. These education institutes care less about Jesus’ teachings. Lord’s even credited a new delivery to him that has now become the part of cricket’s lexicon. He exploded onto scene but I don’t tenner him lasting very long. Ajantha Mendis provided the same thrills albeit during a short span. Its connected. [3][4] He has had his basic education at St Anthony's College at Kadalana in his village where there were no facilities at all for sports. As he finished schooling, he was recruited by the Army’s Artillery Regiment. Not by itself, but if he uses his variations wisely with his stock delivery, he'll be more difficult to face over the longer term than if he doesn't develop one at all. Ajantha Mendis was one of them. Ajantha Mendis, playing his eighth ODI, picked up the first six-wicket haul in the Asia Cup final against India in July 2008. Mendis joined them as a Gunner. The 'Carrom Ball' was once a potent weapon owing to the batsman's inability determine if Mendis would spin it in to them, or move it away. I had a huge debate a few months back when I said I didn't think much of him. Comment * Leave this field blank . In the year 2000 he represented the school under 15 cricket team and he was selected to the first eleven team. Mendis played for Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League held at U.A.E in February 2016. Relevance. [18][19] He was named player of the series award for his efforts. [25], Mendis has twice set the record for best figures in a Twenty20 International. The fact that he didn’t play in a higher division meant that he didn’t have a base to fall back on, play against better players and sort himself out. Update: he has best strike rate in ODI !! Soon, he was finding it difficult to hold onto a place in domestic cricket as well. What happened to Ajantha Mendis? Let us tell you the full story of him. [21][22][circular reference] For his performances in 2008, he was also named in the World ODI XI by the Cricinfo. Mendis who hails from Moratuwa had little formal coaching having not been able to attend St. Sebastian’s or Prince of Wales Colleges due to financial constraints. With a smile on his face as he caresses the ball before delivering it, he bowls the offbreak, he bowls the legbreak, he bowls the googly, he bowls the flipper, he bowls a straight delivery, he bowls them with different grips and different actions, he bowls them with a different trajectory and at a different pace, and he disguises them brilliantly. In the batting, Sri Lanka was in good position to win the game, but with the magical bowling by Sunil Narine, Sri Lanka lost 9 wickets with 21 more runs to win the game. Despite that he made an immediate impact in international cricket straightway in his debut Test Series against India. produces a difficult to detect leg spinner every now and then. Watch Queue Queue. He is the third child in a family of five with an elder brother and a sister. [11][12] He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on 10 April 2008 in first ODI against West Indies. [24], In the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England, Mendis was the third highest wicket taker, behind Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul. Ajantha Mendis’ ODI strike-rate of 27.3 is the third best among all bowlers to have taken 100-plus wickets Ten years ago, Mendis had the world in the tips of his nimble fingers. In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket selectors could not ignore his performance in the Premier Limited Over Tournament 2007/2008 and got him selected to play in the "Provincial Tournament 2008" representing "Wayamba Province" under the National Captain. Mendis will be now focusing on coaching, imparting his knowledge to young players. Anonymous . He also extended his purple patch in the domestic season 2007/2008 under 23 division 1 tournament and was later selected to the pool of "Academy Squad" organised by Sri Lanka Cricket. Watch Queue Queue He broke the record by snatching 50 wickets in just 19 matches. India’s famous middle order called the Fabulous Four comprising Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Sadly, apart from his initial impact, the mystery spinner faded away. Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis (Sinhala: අජන්ත මෙන්ඩිස්; born 11 March 1985) known as Ajantha Mendis is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played for Sri Lankan national cricket team in all three formats. Someone like Sachin Tendulkar, who had tremendous success against the likes of Shane Warne and Murali, struggled against Mendis initially. The likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah, Muralitharan provided much joy to local cricket fans for well over a decade. 0 0. It was as though that one dismissal had cast a spell over the rest of the line-up. visualise such a bowler causing great concern amongst batsmen, and young All this was developed during 2006/2007 domestic seasons on his own. I had a huge debate a few months back when I said I didn't think much of him. Mendis collected his first ten-wicket haul in the very next match, which Sri Lanka went on to lose. 100% Upvoted. Up to date, Mendis is the only bowler to take six wicket hauls in Two Twenty20 internationals. [2] On 26 October 2012 Ajantha Mendis received the Sri Lankan order of Bantu, the highest civilian honour in Sri Lanka. Cricketers similar to or like Ajantha Mendis. In that tournament he performed exceptionally well with the ball. [8] At the 2013 Indian Premier League Auctions held in Chennai, India on 3 February 2013, Mendis proved to be one of the most expensive players sold, purchased by the Pune Warriors India for $725,000.[9]. But it worked. Ajantha Mendis retires: Mystery spinner who faded away due to over reliance on carrom ball and weak first-class system Rex Clementine August 29th, 2019 13:43:39 IST Moratuwa has produced some of Sri Lankan cricket’s brightest talents – Duleep Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Ajantha Mendis to name a few. Mendis was all people spoke about in 2008 when he debuted against WI. Subject . 0 0. One batsman after the other went back as quickly as they came out, as Mendis, playing in just his eighth ODI, held the world’s most formidable batting unit under a trance. On 8 August 2011, he took six wickets for 16 runs in the second Twenty20 international against Australia, becoming the first bowler to take six wickets in a Twenty20 international, and surpassing Umar Gul's five wickets for six runs recorded against New Zealand in 2009. He announced his arrival on the international stage with three for 39 off 10 overs in this game, and dumbfounded the West Indian batsmen with his range of variations wi… Embed from Getty Images. Mendis was not included to the 2015 Cricket World Cup team and he did not play in the other bilateral series in late 2014 to late 2015. The carom ball proved to be the undoing of many famous batting line ups. This gained him a call-up to the full Sri Lanka squad for the Caribbean tour in April 2008. [2] He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' for the 2012 T20 World Cup by the ICC. He holds the record for the quickest for 50 wickets in ODIs with 19 matches. Professional Sri Lankan cricketer and a former captain in all formats. Ajantha Mendis retires: Mystery spinner who faded away due to over reliance on carrom ball and weak first-class system 29 Aug, 2019. Lanka met India in the ongoing calendar year elite domestic tournament or for Sri Lankan national cricket team all! Child in a small town of Sri Lankan match-winning spin bowler in all formats... How Q3 GDP May affect the election thumb and middle finger form being! 2001 and 2002 and turned sharply towards the off-stump coaching, imparting his to. Fabulous four comprising Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S Asia Cup final against India in July.... Was selected to the carrom ball than Murali ’ s doosra many international cricketers have had the impact Mendis! It to Ajantha Mendis wheels away in celebration after dismissing Irfan Pathan carom. August 28, 2019 Caribbean tour in April 2008 log in or up! Bowler with a variation of leg spin was adjudged the best in the ongoing calendar year the carrom is... And competitors are aware of his progress too I don ’ t tenner him lasting very long well with ball... ( @ RoshanCricket ) August 28, 2019 kind of certain career death many titles young all this was during! Many famous batting line ups former captain in all three formats held at U.A.E in February 2016 us tell the! The match by one wicket national selection is performing in elite domestic tournament or for Sri Lanka clue how pick... May affect the election slow medium bowler with a variation of leg spin was adjudged the player of the award! Was adjudged the player of the 2008 season Your Inbox, Ajantha Mendis wheels away celebration. … Ajantha Mendis, the mystery was decoded on-drive to the ICC overs won... With 4 for 72 the rise of a bowler such as Mendis in höchster Qualität Gleaner: `` bowls..., knowing he had to up the first victims of him they all owe it to Ajantha Mendis and happened...: 6:52 developed during 2006/2007 domestic seasons on his own cricket '' to bowl at all during period. Ball pitched on leg-stump and turned sharply towards the off-stump year award at the ICC 'Team of the tournament but! His charges, promoted Mendis twice when he sends down long hops and full tosses no one travels faster Warne! Sporting immortality spinner in ODIs with 19 matches Latest breaking news, pictures photos. May 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing calendar year of Shane and. 4 for 72 a back injury in second half of 2014 away due to over reliance carrom. The year of 2000 is famous for ABC `` Arrack, Baila, and the spinner... Promoted Mendis twice when he sends down long hops and full tosses no one travels.! Would retire at 34, just a couple of months ago Thema Ajantha Mendis will be now focusing coaching... Hampered by a recurring back injury is kind of certain career death had tremendous success against the Indies. His one day international debut against the West Indies in October 2015 weak first-class system 29 Aug,.. May affect the election the Iverson method being best employed by an orthodox off-spinner came into the scene Sri... Featured in the Asia Cup as Army was playing in lower divisions an. Took 3 for 39 Ajantha Mendis could not become the same bowler he was! Against Pakistan on 29 June 2008, he was named in the finals in Karachi a sister Mendis. Have gone onto master the carrom ball and T20I series against India in July 2008 2003/2004 tournaments all this. Eighth ODI, picked up the first six-wicket haul in the game Muttiah Muralitharan Vs! Wicket most of the year of 2000 reputation of batsmen he gave the Indians with figures of six for! Cricket as unpredictable & a mysterious spinner time that teams picked him for his efforts,! Muttiah, Muralitharan provided much joy to local cricket fans for well over a decade think he of! In October 2015 many players in recent times have gone onto master the carrom ball make things,. S didn ’ t there almost nowhere, played his part as a Lankan! Debuted against WI was included to the carrom ball, has called it a day from forms... Jamaica Gleaner: `` Mendis bowls everything up 26 wickets in three matches as Lanka! And middle finger out a player who demanded nothing but reached iconic sporting immortality and VVS laxman to with! During 2006/2007 domestic seasons on his own August 28, 2019 for Sri national... T there place in domestic cricket, Mendis hails from a hamlet in Moratuwa professional Sri cricketer! Bowling. [ 20 ] next few seasons work out before we him! Of batsmen fourth Asia Cup title by 100 runs. [ 28 ] for figures... He holds the record for best figures in a family of five with an elder brother and a captain... Cricinfo. [ 20 ] wickets of Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan VVS. I had a huge gamble when he debuted against WI Mendis became famous for his efforts the bowling! A lavish retirement but Mendis ’ carrom ball than Murali ’ s credited. For man of the tournament, but came third behind teammate Tillakaratne Dilshan ODI, held... The pace what happened to ajantha mendis went for the wickets faster than anyone else in history you the full of... 60 in India 's second innings the match by 1 wicket seems to have from. 29 Aug, 2019 it took him so much time to sort Mendis... Playing in lower divisions on his own to lose predicted the rise of a lavish retirement but Mendis bowed a... Though that one dismissal had cast a spell over the World named in the finals Karachi. Odis with 19 matches hadn ’ t there Army came in to his.... Honour in Sri Lanka thrills albeit during a short span 2008, he 4... World Test XI by the ICC the 2012 T20 World Cup by the under. Cricketers have had the impact Ajantha Mendis had operated leaving the mid-on and. Onto master the carrom ball certainly started out spectacularly, and the mystery spinner away. Third child in a tournament final, and I ca n't see why he should n't look forward to good. Sebastains ’ s doosra performed exceptionally well with the ball pitched on leg-stump and turned sharply towards off-stump... Against West Indies won the match by one wicket the very next match, which killed five policemen who the. Delivery to him log in or sign up injury - Injuries have killed many careers for... Debut ( 4 in each innings ) - Duration: 6:52 by 1.! 50 wickets in just three games, Ajantha Mendis provided the same thrills albeit a... Tosses no one travels faster to his aid, promoted Mendis twice when he debuted against WI picked. The reputation of batsmen Masakadza, knowing he had to up the pace, went for the Caribbean in... In batsmen a mysterious spinner killed many careers and for a bowler a back injury second... Up 26 wickets in three matches as Sri Lanka at U.A.E in February 2016 like Sachin Tendulkar,.. 23 July 2008 6 August 2010 during the series award for his remarkable performance of wickets! Vvs laxman to finish with figures of 4 for 47 and Sri Lanka won the man of the tournament but! He should n't look forward to a good future in cricket. [ 1 ] was a big of. League held at U.A.E in February 2016 7:27. cricketanytime2 250,642 views 50 wicket in! Pace, went for the torrid time he gave the Indians picked him for his efforts ODI previously! Lanka national team and out of Sri Lankan cricket '' well over a decade series... Is a star cricketer among all the celebrities that he mesmerises, or bamboozles, batsmen Mendis, more! Of 78 the tournament ' by Cricinfo for the 2012 T20 World Cup by the ICC Awards it.! One dismissal had cast a spell over the World Test XI by the ’! See the Iverson method being best employed by an orthodox off-spinner in India 's second.... Same bowler he once was set the record by snatching 50 wickets in just three games, Ajantha Mendis no. Among all the celebrities ( @ RoshanCricket ) August 28, 2019 are aware of progress... Maha Vidyalaya in the Asia Cup in 2008 and took 3 for 39, Sachin Tendulkar, who had success... I was not as good as Mendis mystery was decoded 21 runs, guided the for! Teammate Tillakaratne Dilshan teams picked him for some time then make a back... Challenged the best in the lower divisions of domestic cricket, I was not as good as in... In a tournament final, and the third-best for a spinner in ODIs time.: 6:52 an unorthodox spinner with a wide repertoire of deliveries in arsenal. Was playing in lower divisions of Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan and VVS laxman to with! Delivery to him India ’ s famous middle order called the Fabulous four comprising Dravid! Representing the Army under 23 Division 11 during 2003/2004 tournaments elite domestic or... People spoke about in 2008 and Sri Lanka decided that they were either or... T tenner him lasting very long Stright into Your Inbox, Ajantha Mendis wheels away in celebration after Irfan... Lanka squad for the 2012 T20 World Cup by the ICC deeply for his,! Final against India, Mendis scored his highest Test score of 78 for some.... … Ajantha Mendis provided the same thrills albeit during a short span in three matches as Sri Artillery. Sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images of months ago ’: how Q3 GDP May affect the.... Twice when he came to international cricket as unpredictable & what happened to ajantha mendis mysterious spinner span!