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Cautious Indians played me well: Mendis
Ajantha Mendis reckons MS Dhoni and his boys played his well but the Sri Lankan mystery spinner claims he managed to straitjacket the aggressive Indians.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: September 11, 2008 04:01 PM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Colombo:
"It should be like that. Talented batsmen learn quickly and correct their mistakes," said Mendis, admitting that the Indians found him relatively easy to read in the ODI series after fumbling in the Tests.
The spin sensation, however, promised to settle the score next time and said he would find ways to get the better of the same Indian batsmen.
"I too should improve and find ways to beat them," said Mendis, who played a big role in Lanka's 2-1 win against India in the recent home series.
"But you can't say that the Indian batsmen were their usual self. They were very cautious," Mendis told weekly newspaper 'Lakbimanews'.
With his range of deliveries and subtle-variations, Mendis bamboozled some of the best batsmen and the youngster admitted he had not expected such a meteoric rise.
"I am really happy. I did not expect to be so successful. But I should say I have a long way to go," he said.
He also revealed that English counties Sussex, Surrey and Kent had shown interest in him.
His coachTrevor Bayliss spoke highly of Mendis, even tipping him to reach the 1000 Test wicket mark.
"He may be well short of 1000 wickets or he may surpass that. But I don't see any reason why he can't keep going especially when he is taking wickets and enjoying what he does best."
Asked the difference in techniques of Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan, Bayliss said the mystery bowler was a finger spinner while Murali rely more on wrist.
"Mendis is quicker through the air but not a big spinner of the ball like Murali. Mendis bamboozles the batsmen with his subtle variations whereas Murali spins the ball viciously with his big spinning off break, straighter ones and the doosra," Bayliss said.
The coach described the Mendis and Murali as key to their 2-1 Test series victory over India.
"India's famed batting line-up came under lot of pressure from Mendis and Murali in the three-match Test series," Bayliss said.
Ajantha Mendis reckons MS Dhoni and his boys, by and large, read him well in the just-concluded ODI series but the Sri Lankan mystery spinner claims he at least managed to straitjacket the aggressive Indian batsmen."It should be like that. Talented batsmen learn quickly and correct their mistakes," said Mendis, admitting that the Indians found him relatively easy to read in the ODI series after fumbling in the Tests.
The spin sensation, however, promised to settle the score next time and said he would find ways to get the better of the same Indian batsmen.
"I too should improve and find ways to beat them," said Mendis, who played a big role in Lanka's 2-1 win against India in the recent home series.
"But you can't say that the Indian batsmen were their usual self. They were very cautious," Mendis told weekly newspaper 'Lakbimanews'.
With his range of deliveries and subtle-variations, Mendis bamboozled some of the best batsmen and the youngster admitted he had not expected such a meteoric rise.
"I am really happy. I did not expect to be so successful. But I should say I have a long way to go," he said.
He also revealed that English counties Sussex, Surrey and Kent had shown interest in him.
His coachTrevor Bayliss spoke highly of Mendis, even tipping him to reach the 1000 Test wicket mark.
"He may be well short of 1000 wickets or he may surpass that. But I don't see any reason why he can't keep going especially when he is taking wickets and enjoying what he does best."
Asked the difference in techniques of Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan, Bayliss said the mystery bowler was a finger spinner while Murali rely more on wrist.
"Mendis is quicker through the air but not a big spinner of the ball like Murali. Mendis bamboozles the batsmen with his subtle variations whereas Murali spins the ball viciously with his big spinning off break, straighter ones and the doosra," Bayliss said.
The coach described the Mendis and Murali as key to their 2-1 Test series victory over India.
"India's famed batting line-up came under lot of pressure from Mendis and Murali in the three-match Test series," Bayliss said.
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