Sachin helped me tackle Mendis: Yuvi

It was carnival time for the India batsmen in Colombo and one of the man leading the carnage against Lanka, Yuvraj Singh summed up the Indian mood post the win and of course he thanked Little Master Sachin Tendulkar for his tips that helped him tackle spin wizard Ajantha Mendis.

It was lip-smacking to the core, Yuvraj Singh was the toast of Premadasa and it took just 82 balls for hs century, and the acknowledgement went straight to the dressing room.

Adressing the media after the win, Yuvi said, "He (Sachin) actually gave me plans to play Mendis in this series because last time I got out to him a few times so I was chatting with Sachin who told me a few points, which really helped me in getting through in the initial overs. I'll give credit to Sachin for helping me."

Playing in tandem with Sehwag has been a rarity for the lef-hander. However, when he got this opportunity he did not want to let go off it.

He said, "I don't remember me and Viru batting together and getting a hundred. Because normally Viru is batting up the order. By the time i get to the crease he is out on hundred or I am there till he gets 250 or 300 runs. I don't get to bat much with him. But I really enjoyed batting with him."

The Little Master was third time unlucky in this series. However, Yuvi warned his opponents that Sachin will be back with a bang.

Mendis form not a worry, says Jayawardene

Feb 1, 2009

COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said Sunday that spinner Ajantha Mendis would come back strongly after getting just two wickets in as many matches against India in the ongoing one-day series.

"We cannot ask a 23-year-old to pick four wickets in every game. I am sure Ajantha will bounce back. It is not a huge concern for me," said the Sri Lankan skipper, whose team trail 2-0 in the five-match series.

The unorthodox spinner grabbed 19 wickets in his first six matches against India, including a 6-13 performance in his team's victory in the Asia Cup final in Karachi in July 2008.

But he went wicketless for the first time against India in the opening game in Dambulla and took two in the second match here on Saturday, having so far conceded 91 runs in 20 overs.

"Right now, they are playing him well. Let him learn. The batsmen also adjust themselves and then the bowlers try to change what they want to do and that's how they learn," said Jayawardene.

"He is still bowling well and creating opportunities. He is probably not picking wickets because the batsmen are not taking too many risks against him."

Mendis played a key role in his team's Test series victory against India at home last year when he captured 26 wickets -- the best by any bowler in a debut three-match series.

He also became the fastest to complete 50 one-day wickets recently, achieving the feat in 19 matches. He has so far bagged 61 wickets in 26 games.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was happy his team had not given too many wickets to Sri Lankan spinners Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan in the first two one-dayers.

"I won't say that our batsmen have got the better of the Sri Lankan spinners. There are still three more games to go. They are not getting wickets, but at the same time they are not giving away too many runs," said Dhoni.

"We are cautious and targeting other bowlers. We are happy that we are not giving wickets to the spinners."

Fan-actics “X-Mendis”

Thanks to Ceci Masters

Source - theflyslip

Mendis is not a threat for us: Dhoni

Playing down the threat from the new spin sensation of Sri Lanka Ajantha Mendis, Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Monday his team is not wary of playing him.

Addressing the media in Colombo on the upcoming five One-day International series against Sri Lanka beginning on Wednesday in Dambulla, the Indian skipper, however, said it is always "tough to beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka".

Asked how his team was going to face Mendis, who ran though their batting order in the Test series in Colombo last year, Dhoni said they had a measure of the spinner during the subsequent ODI series, which India won.

"We did well against him in ODIs, so there is no need for us to worry too much about him or any individuals. Our boys are ready to face the challenges ahead," said the Indian skipper.

Dhoni said although the weather conditions may look the same in the neighbouring countries, but it is not so.

"The conditions are not the same. The pitches in Sri Lanka perform differently as the match progresses. A lot depends on the toss," he said, indicating that India won all the matches against Sri Lanka last year after winning the toss.

Dhoni said although the team was missing Harbhajan Singh, the senior member of the team's spin department, it has given a golden opportunity for the upcoming youngsters to perform and prove their talents.

According to the rescheduled tournament itinerary, only the first one-day international (ODI) will be played at Dambulla Rangiri Stadium while the remaining games will be held in Colombo (January 30, February 2, 5 and 8).

The only Twenty20 International will be played in Colombo February 10. Three ODIs will be played under lights at R Premadasa Stadium while the fifth one-dayer will be a day game at the Sinhalese Sports Club, also in Colombo.

The series was hastily scheduled after India cancelled its tour to Pakistan in January-February following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Sri Lanka, which is boosted by its two emphatic back-to-back wins over Pakistan last week, will fly back to Pakistan in February to play two Tests after hosting India.

I will have no problems against Mendis, says Sehwag

On the eve of the Indian cricket team's departure for Sri Lanka for a one-day series, dashing opener Virender Sehwag has sought to put the rivals on the backfoot, saying he had done his homework against mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis and would not hesitate to attack him.
Sehwag said his knowledge of the nuances of the game made it easy for him to deal with mystery bowlers like Mendis.

"I am exceptionally aware of the nuances of the game. I know what's happening, who is where and how to take advantage of him in the field. I studied him (Mendis) during the Asia Cup in Pakistan. Even at non-striker's end, I kept following his methods. His style when he is bowling off-spin, googly, or pushing it through middle finger.

"So I have no problem in attacking him. A bowler is demoralised if he knows that a batsman has read him completely", Sehwag told in an interview.

He said a bowler like Mendis preferred to keep three or four fielders close to bat. "It means there are open spaces in the field. Even a mis-hit can give you boundaries," he explained.

"Unlike the accepted norm, I find hitting against the spin more profitable. It allows one to free one's arms," he said.

The explosive right-hander, who claimed that he never looks back in regret, said his big knocks won't count anything for him if the team had not won ultimately.

"I never look back. I have never looked back on those innings. What is gone is gone, it's over," he asserted.

Can Ajantha Mendis calm Dhoni and company this time?

The high riding Indians on a crest of a wave of their recent success against the World Champions Australia and England will take Mahela Jayawardena’s Sri Lankan one day cricket status to the acid test when they arrive in the Island tomorrow (Monday) to play 5 One-Day Internationals.

Ajantha Mendis will give the Indian cricketers all the problems...

Sri Lanka who won the Test series 2-1, but was roundly beaten 3/2 in the ODI series by Dhoni’s men back home last August, will find the Indians led by the exemplary young captain a huge stumbling block in trying to redress things when they meet again. While Jayawardena and Co. will enjoy a big home advantage, the Indian dominance bringing down Ricky Ponting’s Aussies and Kevin Pietersen’s Englishmen speaks very tall of a team that has found the winning formula with a combination of all his units.

Dhoni who had declared himself out of the Test series against the Lankans last year, played an important role as captain and batsman in the limited overs, helping to outwit Sri Lanka when they last met in Sri Lanka less than a year ago. The strong point of the Indian team is that the batting department has improved tremendously with the likes of Yuvaraj Singh contributing enormously to a side that has been consistently held together by the big hitting opener Virender Sehwag who had a fine stint against Australia and England.

Then add the inform Gautham Gambhir, ‘little master’ Sachin Tendulkar and the skipper Dhoni himself, it will be a huge proportion to the Sri Lankan bowlers.

It is interesting to see as to how the Indians will cope up with Ajantha Mendis who mesmerised them in the Asia Cup final, which the Lankans won. Then the subsequent home Test series July-August 2008 where Mendis inflicted irreparable damage to the Indian side to take the Test series 2-1. India’s ace spinner Harbhajan Singh will miss the series due to a hamstring injury and his place will be taken by left-handed allrounder Ravindra Jadeja who has been enjoying a fairly successful Ranji Trophy season, taking 42 wickets in 9 matches and scoring 739 runs.

The Sri Lankans will be mindful that the Indian batting machinery had the fire power to destroy Australia and England and it will require a gigantic effort from the Lankan bowlers to address that area.

However, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena is fully focused in the on - going ODI series against Pakistan which both teams have won a match each and the final to be played on Saturday.

Itinerary

January 26 Monday: arrival of Indian team. Jan. 27 Rest and practice. January 28 First: ODI Dambulla-Day match January: 29 and 30 rest and practice. 31st Sat. 2nd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium D/N. Feb. 1st and 2nd rest and practice. Feb. 3: 3rd ODI R. Premadasa Stadium D/N. Feb. 4 rest. Feb. 5: 4th ODI R. Premadasa Stadium D/N. Feb. 6 and 7 rest and practice. Feb. 8: 5th ODI SSC Day match. Feb. 9 rest. Feb.10 Twenty20 game at R.Premadasa Stadium D/N.

Teams:

India. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautham Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvaraj Singh, Rohith Sharma, Suresh Raina, R.Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan, Preveen Kumar, Coach. Gary Kirsten.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Thilina Thushara, Jehan Mubarak, Angelo Mathew, Muthiah Muralidharan, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Dammika Prasad.

Mendis, Hodge sign longer contracts | IPL 2009

Ajantha Mendis

Calcutta: Kolkata Knight Riders signed two of their replacement players from the last season — Sri Lankan spin sensation Ajantha Mendis and seasoned Australian batsman Brad Hodge — on longer contracts.

Mendis has arguably been the best bowler in the world in recent months and is sure to be a big attraction when the second season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off April 10.

Delhi DareDevils have bought Australian batting sensation David Warner and allrounder Andrew MacDonald while Deccan Chargers have roped in Ryan Harris, also of Australia, for the second edition of the IPL.

The closure of the month-long trading window on Thursday saw a total of seven players being traded, according to a media release.

The Mumbai Indians signed the West Indian Dwayne Bravo, while the Chennai Super Kings inked a long-term contract with Sri Lankan Chamara Kapugedera, the release added.

Royal Challengers Bangalore swapped Zaheer Khan for Karnataka Ranji Trophy captain Robin Uthappa (Mumbai Indians). In another exchange, Ashish Nehra of the Mumbai Indians was swapped for left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan of the Delhi DareDevils.

Jaydev Shah of the Rajasthan Royals — captain of the Saurashtra Ranji team — will play for the Mumbai Indians.

Batsman Gaurav Dhiman of the Mumbai Indians will turn out for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan pacer Pankaj Singh, of the Rajasthan Royals, will don the colours of the team from Bangalore in the coming IPL season.

Australian MacDonald featured in his country’s consolation Test win in Sydney, whilst Warner made a sensational Twenty20 debut — both against South Africa.

Amrit Mathur, chief operating officer of the Delhi DareDevils, was excited about his new addition.

“We are really delighted to have signed David. “His debut game for Australia the other day has been sensational and we are hoping he will carry forward this brilliance into season two of the IPL,” he said.

The IPL player auction for the second season will take place in Goa on February 6, where franchises will have the opportunity to purchase current international players to fill the remaining slots for overseas players in their squads.