Ajantha Mendis

Ajantha Mendis is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who was known for his unique bowling style and his ability to bamboozle batsmen with his variations. Born on March 11, 1985, in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Mendis started playing cricket at a young age and went on to become one of Sri Lanka's most successful spin bowlers.

Early Years and Personal Life:

Mendis grew up in a family of cricket enthusiasts, and he started playing the game at the age of 11. He attended St. Servatius' College, Matara, where he played for the school cricket team. Mendis made his first-class debut for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in 2003 and played for the club for several years.

Off the field, Mendis is known to be a private person and does not reveal much about his personal life. However, it is familiar that he is married and has a daughter.

Bowling Style:

Mendis is known for his unique bowling style, which includes a variety of variations, including the carrom ball, the googly, and the flipper. He also had a very unorthodox grip on the ball, which made it difficult for batsmen to pick his deliveries.

Mendis was first noticed during the 2008 Asia Cup, where he made his debut for Sri Lanka. In the tournament, he picked up 17 wickets in just 6 matches, including a record-breaking 6 for 13 against India in the final. His performance in the tournament earned him the Player of the Series award and made him an overnight sensation.

Domestic and Franchise Cricket:

Mendis had a successful domestic career, where he played for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, Sinhalese Sports Club, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the IPL, Mendis played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009 and 2010 seasons and was one of the team's key bowlers. However, he did not have much success in the tournament, picking up just 7 wickets in 9 matches.

Mendis also played for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia and was part of the Jamaica Tallawahs team in the Caribbean Premier League. However, his performances in franchise cricket were not as successful as his performances in international cricket.

In international cricket, Mendis had a successful career, where he played 87 matches for Sri Lanka across all three formats. He picked up 152 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 24.99, 70 wickets in ODIs at an average of 21.84, and 66 wickets in T20Is at an average of 16.62. His best performance in Test cricket came against India in 2008 when he picked up 8 wickets in the match and helped Sri Lanka win by an innings and 239 runs.

Mendis was also part of Sri Lanka's squad for the 2011 World Cup, where he played a key role in Sri Lanka's run to the final. In the tournament, he picked up 15 wickets in 9 matches and was the joint-highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka.

However, Mendis' career was cut short due to injuries, and he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in August 2019. He finished his career with 288 international wickets and will be remembered as one of Sri Lanka's greatest spin bowlers.

Ajantha Mendis is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was known for his unique bowling style and his ability to bamboozle batsmen with his variations. He played for Sri Lanka across all three formats of the game and had a successful international career.

One Day Internationals:

Mendis made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka against the West Indies in April 2008. In his very first match, he took three wickets, including the prized scalp of Chris Gayle. He continued his good form in the series and finished with 11 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 10.45.

Mendis' most memorable performance in ODIs came in the 2011 World Cup, where he played a key role in Sri Lanka's run to the final. He picked up 15 wickets in 9 matches in the tournament, including 4 wickets against both Australia and New Zealand in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively. However, he could not replicate his form in the final and ended up with figures of 0 for 35 in 6 overs.

Overall, Mendis played 87 ODIs for Sri Lanka and took 70 wickets at an average of 21.84. His best figures in an innings were 6 for 13, which he achieved against India in the final of the 2008 Asia Cup.

Twenty20 Cricket:

Mendis was known for his effectiveness in T20 cricket, where his variations made him a difficult bowler to face. He made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka in June 2008 and played a key role in Sri Lanka's victory in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

In the tournament, Mendis picked up 6 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 12.83. He played a key role in the final against India, where he picked up 4 wickets for just 12 runs and helped Sri Lanka win their first T20 World Cup.

Mendis played 39 T20Is for Sri Lanka and took 66 wickets at an average of 16.62. His best figures in an innings were 6 for 8, which he achieved against Zimbabwe in 2012.

Test Cricket:

Mendis made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in July 2008 against India. In his very first match, he took 8 wickets, including a record-breaking 6 for 117 in the second innings. His performance in the match helped Sri Lanka win by an innings and 239 runs and earned him the Man of the Match award.

Mendis continued his good form in Test cricket and finished his career with 152 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 24.99. His best figures in an innings were 6 for 99, which he achieved against India in his debut match.

Golden Debut Years:

Mendis burst onto the international cricket scene in 2008 and had a dream debut year. He made his debut for Sri Lanka in April 2008 and played his first match in all three formats of the game within a span of four months.

In his debut year, Mendis picked up 68 wickets in 33 matches across all three formats of the game. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award in the Asia Cup and the Emerging Player of the Year award at the ICC Awards.

Mendis' performances in his debut year also helped Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup and the Tri-Nation Series in Bangladesh. He played a key role in both tournaments and finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup.

In conclusion, Ajantha Mendis was a talented Sri Lankan cricketer who made a name for himself with his unique bowling style and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations. He had a successful international career, playing across all three formats of the game and making a significant impact in each one.

Mendis' golden debut year in 2008 was a testament to his skill and potential, as he made an immediate impact on the international cricket scene. He continued to perform at a high level throughout his career, playing a key role in Sri Lanka's success in various tournaments.

His performances in the 2011 World Cup and the 2014 T20 World Cup were particularly memorable, as he helped Sri Lanka reach the final in both tournaments and played a key role in their victories.

Overall, Ajantha Mendis will be remembered as one of Sri Lanka's finest cricketers and a bowler who had the ability to change the course of a game with his variations. Although he retired from international cricket in 2019, his legacy will continue to inspire young cricketers in Sri Lanka and around the world.