After a decade in purgatory, Sri Lanka is once again rising up as a men's cricket powerhouse. Its revival is centred around Kamindu Mendis, an ambidextrous bowler who is now doing things not seen in generations with the bat.
Any discussion about the most powerful cricket nations in the world over the past few decades begins and ends with three — Australia, England and India.
Despite lacking the funding and resources of the traditional cricketing powerhouses, Sri Lanka has made a habit of punching above its weight class and has provided the game with some of its all-time greats. Once a mainstay at the business end of World Cups, Sri Lanka has not advanced to the semifinal or beyond at a global tournament since winning the T20 World Cup in 2014.
However, the void left by all-timers from previous generations appears to be getting filled by a new star, Kamindu Mendis.Mendis first made headlines back in 2016 while playing with Sri Lanka's under-19 team where he showed off his ability to bowl with both arms. He bowls off spin with his right arm and some orthodox with his left.
To put those numbers in context, by reaching the 1,000-run mark in just his 13th innings, Mendis is currently operating at the same pace as the legendary Donald Bradman.Sri Lanka's previous quickest batter to the 1,000-run mark was Roy Dias, who reached the milestone in 23 innings. He scored a century in Manchester in seaming conditions against England and was named the Player of the Series before repeating that feat against New Zealand with a pair of centuries in a series win at home.
"I had got the chance to play for Sri Lanka after Dhananjaya de Silva tested positive for COVID. When he returned, I had to go out and it was a fair decision," he said in England earlier this year. Mendis was asked about de Silva's decision to declare with him just 18 runs away from a maiden double century with his skipper seated beside him, and there was not a hint of selfishness in his answer.
In August, Jayasuriya's side beat India in a bilateral one-day series, its first such win over its powerful neighbours since 1997.was Sri Lanka's first Test win in the country since 2014, and its series win against New Zealand is its first over the Black Caps in 15 years.) The more other countries emerge as forces in the red-ball format, the better the matches will be for fans all over the world, even if they are not marquee series such as The Ashes.
"He communicates well and has given us a lot of freedom. We are all working towards one goal, and now everyone is on the same page. He's also done a superb job grooming the players. He has been amazing. I wish him all the very best." Jayasuriya also had the headache of an underperforming Kusal Mendis batting at number three, and in years past, Sri Lanka might have simply swapped the two Mendii around.
Young talents such as Kamindu and opener Pathum Nissanka, who scored a brilliant century at The Oval in the win over England, are flanked by the experienced trio of Mathews, Chandimal and former Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne. That Sri Lanka won a Test in England playing four pacemen is a sign of its evolution in the long format.
India looked well on its way to another win this year as well until something magical happened at the back end of the tournament. Up stepped Harshitha Samarawickrama and youngster Kavisha Dilhari, who smacked 30 off 16 deliveries to lead her side home with eight balls to spare.
Sri Lanka Cricket Kamindu Mendis Sanath Jayasuriya Chamari Athapaththu Angelo Mathews Kumar Sangakkara
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