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Ajantha Mendis: Can this mystery ever be solved?

King Pietersen

King Pietersen

International Captain
Amit Mishra doesn't average 14.48 after 31 ODi's. Amit Mishra doesn't average 17.88 in FC cricket. It's not like people were hyping Mendis over nothing, he has an exceptional record, and has continued that exceptional record in his International career, in ODi's especially. Although his Test record was seriously good before playing on some absolute roads in Pakistan. I think Mendis's hype is more than justified, he's an exceptional talent. Did I use the word 'exceptional'?
 
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Pratters

Pratters

Cricket, Lovely Cricket
Ajit Agarkar had a great start to his ODI career. He wasn't special though. I think the stats around Mendis have created a hoopla which is not right. I don't see him as exceptional. Only time will tell what will become of him.

EDIT - I am not comparing Mishra with Mendis. Just showing that if we measure talent-hype, Mendis has a lot of hype going for him.
 
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Migara

Migara

International Coach
No one is expecting Mendis to be better than Murali or Warne or Kumble for that matter. But he's expected to do better than Harbhajan, Vettori or any other current spinner in the game.
 
King Pietersen

King Pietersen

International Captain
Pratters said:
Ajit Agarkar had a great start to his ODI career. He wasn't special though. I think the stats around Mendis have created a hoopla which is not right. I don't see him as exceptional. Only time will tell what will become of him.
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After the same amount of ODI's that Mendis has played Agarkar averaged 22, 8 runs per wicket more than Mendis. That's a huge gulf. Averaging 14.48 in ODi cricket in the modern era is a magnificent effort and given the mystery around his bowling, with all his variations, I'd say the 'hoopla' is justified.
 
Naumaan

Naumaan

First Class Debutant
For me mendis is like sohail tanveer, with the passage of time ppl will play him with ease
 
Uppercut

Uppercut

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Pratters said:
Amit Mishra has talent as a player too but we don't see hype surrounding him for instance.
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No, but there should be. Mishy's feckin awesome.

He's a leg-spinner who's fantastically accurate, spins the ball a mile and has great variation but aren't hyping him up at all. Especially considering he took a series-changing five-fer against Australia on debut. It amazes me firstly that he's not in the one-day and T20 teams, and secondly that the Indian fans- notorious for overhyping young players- have very little to say about him.
 
Pratters

Pratters

Cricket, Lovely Cricket
Uppercut said:
No, but there should be. Mishy's feckin awesome.

He's a leg-spinner who's fantastically accurate, spins the ball a mile and has great variation but aren't hyping him up at all. Especially considering he took a series-changing five-fer against Australia on debut. It amazes me firstly that he's not in the one-day and T20 teams, and secondly that the Indian fans- notorious for overhyping young players- have very little to say about him.
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Yeah, I agree. Problem is Mishra has been average in FC cricket barring one season. I do rate him too.
 
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Migara

Migara

International Coach
151/4 against Northants on a later summer pitch is poor. Especiially when Boje got 8 wickets in the match for a lower price.
 
Migara

Migara

International Coach
Naumaan said:
For me mendis is like sohail tanveer, with the passage of time ppl will play him with ease
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Only difference is Sohail Tanvir sprays it around Peter North when he's not in form. What ever the condition given, Mendis is bloody accurate.
 
pup11

pup11

International Coach
I knew people would sort him out with time, but the tables have turned on Mendis quicker than I expected, though I have got to be honest that I haven't been following Mendis too closley after the T20 WC, but it seems he has lost the no.2 test spinner manttle to Hearth and his ODI form also seems to be dipping rapidly.

I think what has happened here is that teams like Pakistan and India who have played him quite a few times now have got used to his variations and are much more at ease while facing him, but still it was weird to see even Sharma dancing down the pitch yesterday and whacking him over the top, becuase these are the same blokes who were looking clueless against him less than 12 months ago.

So what's really gone wrong with him, there was some talk that his fingers aren't in the greatest of shape with the amount of bowling he has been doing recently, and then the other theory is that he is probably strugling due to the slowness of the pitches, or maybe like I mentioned, its just simply the case of teams just sorting him out.
 
pup11

pup11

International Coach
Uppercut said:
No, but there should be. Mishy's feckin awesome.

He's a leg-spinner who's fantastically accurate, spins the ball a mile and has great variation but aren't hyping him up at all. Especially considering he took a series-changing five-fer against Australia on debut. It amazes me firstly that he's not in the one-day and T20 teams, and secondly that the Indian fans- notorious for overhyping young players- have very little to say about him.
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25 is not young enough for Indian fans... :p
 
Migara

Migara

International Coach
pup11 said:
I knew people would sort him out with time, but the tables have turned on Mendis quicker than I expected, though I have got to be honest that I haven't been following Mendis too closley after the T20 WC, but it seems he has lost the no.2 test spinner manttle to Hearth and his ODI form also seems to be dipping rapidly.

I think what has happened here is that teams like Pakistan and India who have played him quite a few times now have got used to his variations and are much more at ease while facing him, but still it was weird to see even Sharma dancing down the pitch yesterday and whacking him over the top, becuase these are the same blokes who were looking clueless against him less than 12 months ago.

So what's really gone wrong with him, there was some talk that his fingers aren't in the greatest of shape with the amount of bowling he has been doing recently, and then the other theory is that he is probably strugling due to the slowness of the pitches, or maybe like I mentioned, its just simply the case of teams just sorting him out.
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Obviously he has lost his leg break. Now turn is just Anil Kumble proportions sans kick and bounce of Kumble. I predicted it during his first series that his fingers are going to give away and he needs to develop a decent off break as his stock ball. He's some where there (the ball in 1st test that got rid of Vettori is such a classic, drift, dip, spin and kick every thing there), but still needs some time. If he can develop his off break as a good delivery (not necesarily a deadly one as Murali's), with his variations, he'll be much difficult than a normal finger spinner to play.
 
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