Ajantha Mendis' Future?

Question

SL coach Trevor Bayliss has stated that he is 'gobsmacked' at the natural ability of the SL bowler, & predicts that he will step into Warne's shoes to become the World's best bowler. Given that Mendis is only 23, is Bayliss being a bit over optomistic, or do you think he has the promise to fulfill those predictions?

Answer 1

Mendis in his very first test match bowled 275 balls, conceded 132 runs and captured 8 wickets. This is a phenomenal performance by any standard. What did the others do in their first match ?

Murali - 306 balls, 141 runs, 3 wickets.

Shane Warne - 270 balls, 150 runs, 1 wicket.

Mendis is in the class of the greatest spinners of all time. He is a blend of a Grimmett and a O'Reilly. As world looks forward to his future exploits, Sri Lanka is poised to take over the cricket leadership from Australia for a decade, it appears.

Answer 2

I think his future is very bright. He may not be our next Warne, Murli, or Kumble but he will certainly have his share of success as a  Sri Lankan spinner.

Answer 3

cricinfo.com said "never has there been a such anticipated test debut since michael clarke's"

and mendis didnt let them down:P

many ppl have already expressed their opinion on his future...and many seem compare AM with vinod kambli lol!

hey !!oz!! and the guy who accuses murali of bowling "mango balls".......AM is a soldier in the SL army! and he will NOT be intimidated by the likes of gr8 batsmen(i'm sure he'll respect em of course)...and NOR will he get carried away by his early achievements.

btw wats wrong with ppl who think mendis wnt have a future cos he cnt speak english??? well...he WILL have a future...and you jst wait and see if he wont go on to become a legend.

about trevor bayliss' comment...hmm i guess i'll have to agree with newfly....yep that would in my mind be a strategy of lowering the opposition's guard against murali:P

p.s - murali has been a great performer for SL for ages..whereas mendis has jst begun his career...so pls dnt compare the duo yet.

Answer 4

I honestly dont know, why the Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss has said he can step into Warne's shoes, and not Muralitharan's shoes, to become he world's best bowler. I cant understand why the Sri Lanka coach doesnt support his own player??

I usually go into huge explanations and bore people to death saying why this player is good

BUT not today

Its simple Binga

Ajantha Mendia, has taken wickets in every form of the game that he has played in, he has an exceptional average in all forms. These stats show that he has dominated cricket wherever he has played!! Only the "Great" Muttiah Muralitharan had similar stats at the start of his career! and look where he is now!!

Mendis is a geniune wicket taker who will only IMPROVE!!!

He will one day, be up there with Warne and Murali as the worlds best

Answer 5

A very good bowler, has the potential to be great, he has a very good future. Bayliss (and everyone else for that matter) is right to be excited by him, Mendis is very good. I hope he has a level head on him because he's going to be given a lot of attention in the next few years.

I think the real test will be when he starts playing outside of the Asian countries (I don't think he has has he?) but once he gains that experience nothing will stop him. I hope nobody tries to change his action or anything (which happens a lot when a bowler is discovered), he needs to discover what works for him without too much interference.

Answer 6

Yes - Mendis will be a great wicket taking bowler for Sri Lanka!! He will own any team!!

Answer 7

that is a bold statement from Trevor Bayliss ,, theres to much pressure on this kid from the start ,,,, and as oz and Sarah says theres going to be a lot of attention on  him in the next few months with his treachery fingering ,,,LOL!..

but im wandering !,,is this just a smoke screen to take the attention away from murrali ...who is the one whose actually tacking the wickets

the next test with India .will give a good indication to his level ,,as i think there got to be a backlash from the Indian batsman to both these spinning demons !

i hope they can cope with murrali first !

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Answer 8

Well i think it is only natural that Bayliss has come out and said this..It happens when ever a new player does well.But i think this is nothing but unwanted pressure for the new comer..

I think it is to early to say he is going to be the worlds best bowler,we are just going to have to sit back and admire this young kid and his terrific talent..

I will say it is highly unlikely he is going to take the spotlight of Murali,not while he is coming out and bagging 2- 5 wicket hauls in a test match..

Answer 9

I have only seen him on Youtube and a few replays.  It is early days but he looks very good.  Much will depend on how he reacts to the pressure that is inevitably going to be piled on him as a consequence of his success.

His bowling when bowling the carrom(sp?) is quite stressful on the hands as is a matter flicking the ball from the palm with the middle finger. Hard read for batsman and just by altering the palm position he make the ball spin either way or overspin it even underspin.  If delivered correctly a great weapon to have in the arsenal.  It's not new both Jack Iverson and Johnny Gleeson (test players from Australia) bowled in the fashion but to unsympathetic LBW laws at the time.

Knowing Trevor Bayliss, I think is just commenting on the natural talent that AM has.  He's not pulling any punches so I am at least going to listen to what he has to say. I am tending to agree.

I would like to know why there is such the cry of protest are so loud from India about AM action.  There is nothing that I can see that is illegal. He doesn't bowl with a bent arm that straightens and anything else imparted on the ball from the fingers or wrist is legal under the rules. So why all the bleating about cheating?