Learn to read batsmen's mind, Jayawardene's advice to Mendis

After the recent thrashing against India, mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis needs to work on reading the batsmen's mind to regain his lost spark, believes Sri Lanka's outgoing skipper Mahela Jayawardene.
"India is one of the top sides today and they played very well against us. We have played them a lot in recent times and I think they played Mendis very capably," Jayawardene today said after arriving here for a two-Test series against Pakistan.

"He now has to realise that the surprise element is out and he now has to become a much smarter bowler and come up with new tricks and learn to read the mind of the batsmen. He has got Muralitharan with him who is a very good teacher," he added when asked about Mendis, who came a cropper in the recent ODI series against India which the Lankans lost 1-4.

Jayawardene once again sidestepped queries on who his successor would be when he steps down after the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan.

"...I think the final decision is with the selectors whom they pick," Jayawardene, who will step down as captain after the two-Test series against Pakistan, said in a news conference in Karachi.

Jayawardene reiterated that his decision would allow Sri Lanka to be better prepared for the 2011 World Cup in South Asia

Mendis will bounce back: Jayawardene

Ajantha Mendis might have suffered a poor run in the recent ODI series against India but Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene believes the mystery spinner will soon make a successful comeback.

Mendis burst onto the international scene with his mesmerising spell against India last year but hit a rough patch in the recent series against India and was also rested in the fourth ODI. He scalped only five wickets in the series.

"Yes definitely (he'll hit form). This is probably the time he has to learn the ropes. The inception was brilliant. Everyone was surprised by the talent he had.

"Like all the international cricketers, he just has to try and adjust," Jayawardene told reporters.

"I think it is a good challenge for him to adjust. Do different things like what Murali did for the last 15 or 16 years, creating new opportunities, bowling different things.

"Specially having Muttiah Muralitharan alongside him will definitely help him to achieve those targets and goals and we have to be patient with Ajantha and give him the opportunity he needs," Jayawardene added.

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.