Mendis set to return from 9-month injury layoff

Sri Lanka spinner bowler Ajantha Mendis said on Tuesday that he will soon return from a nine-month layoff because of a back injury and is hoping to have full use of his five variations for the World Twenty20 later this month.

Mendis said he doesn't believe India's batsmen, in particular, have mastered his mystery bowling as some of his critics suggest.

Mendis first came to attention by taking six wickets in an Asia Cup final against India in 2008. He went on to take 26 wickets in a subsequent test series against India, breaking the then-record for most number of wickets in a test series.

Thirty-four of his 62 test wickets have come against the Indians, and they were also the responsible for 28 of his 96 one-day international wickets. He is yet to play a Twenty20 international against India.

"If you take my wicket tallies, I have taken the most against India. I suffered a setback because of the injury and was unable to deliver some of the varieties," Mendis said.

Mendis who hold the record for the best bowling figures in a Twenty20 international - 6-16 against Australia - was picked in Sri Lanka's squad for the Twenty20 as part of a specialist spin attack, along with Rangana Herath and uncapped teenager Akila Dananjaya.

Hosts Sri Lanka plays its first match in the tournament against Zimbabwe on Sept. 18.