Cricket 360

Absolute uncertainty prevails over what to term Ajantha Mendis . The mystery bowler from Sri Lanka, who before beginning his cricketing career was an Army gunner and was the latest spin sensation in international cricket this year.

Two of his deliveries during India’s Test series in Sri Lanka remain etched in my mind. One that spun a mile and got rid of Guatam Gambhir and one that skid across and scuttled past the defense of VVS Laxman. Was it true? Were we finally seeing a bowler who had the capability to bowl six different balls every over?

As he bowled a blend of off breaks, leg breaks, googlies, top spinners, doosra’s and the carrom ball, experts picked each other’s brains to unravel the Mendis mystery . Even the best players of spin required a second opportunity against him. The first was too big a mystery to fathom. Before you knew it, he got you!

Many experts compared, even equated him with the likes of Jack Iverson and John Gleeson after he set a Lankan record by picking 18 wickets in his first two Tests against India. Only four bowlers in the history of Test cricket have had a better record.

These bowlers are India’s Narendra Hirwani (24), England’s Alec Bedser (22), Australia’s Bob Massie (21) and England’s Syd Barnes (19). Of these, only England’s Alec Bedser went on to become a pillar of English cricket and finished with 236 wickets from 51 Tests.