Magical spell by Mendis helped SriLanka win the AsiaCup with dream figures of 6-13, its going to take a long long time for Mendis himself to reproduce such figures. SriLankan players experience and youth combination proved vital at all the important stages of the finals. When SriLanka were batting it was the experience of Jayasurya and Dhilshan to put up a 100+ partnership to make sure that they reach a reasonable total. Jayasurya just dominated the proceedings even though they were tottering at 50+ for 4 with some great display of pace bowling by Ishant Sharma, good that he is back in picking wickets. After some very poor bowling from the seamer's, it was left to the young Mendis to take charge of the game and it was procession from the great Indian batting order. Indian batsmen had no clue on what was Mendis doing with the ball, it was nightmare in the middle for the young Indian star studded batting lineup.
Once again the batting line up looked wanting on experience with all the youngsters choking under pressure. I feel that Sachin/Dravid/Gangully any one of them in the batting line up would have made a difference, at least to put up a fight. India has lost the 2 finals in less than three weeks experimenting with the youngsters, i am sure the results could have been different if Sachin was fit. I think its high time that Sehwag,Youraj win matches for India, rather than playing a few good knocks.
India started of well to put the SriLankan batting to back foot with 90+ for 4, then Jayasurya and Dhilshan played some sensible cricket, with the experienced jayasurya taking control of the match (this was missed badly when India were batting) I.Sharma bowled his heartout but there was very little support from the other seamers. It was left to the spinner Ohja and Sehwag to restrict in the middle overs. It was a pain to watch IrfanPathan gifting away 67 runs of his 10 and that to when the batsmen were struggling, his first over cost almost 12+, I am not sure how he is persisted in the eleven, if the selectors don't axe him now it can only prove correct what MohinderAmarnath once quated as saying "Selectors are a bunch of Jokers".
When India batted, after the first 9 overs it was purely Mendis show, Sehwag as usual threw his wicket and gave the much needed confidence to the youngster. Youraj had no clue on the flipper from Mendis and was castled and then a rank bad shot from the in-form Raina proved that the dressing room was tensed and the same is reflecting in the batsmen, RohitSharma played across the line early in the innings to get caught plumb in front. Dhoni was a mute spectator from the other-end and could not take control of the game. RobinUthappa stayed for some time but Murali proved too clever inviting him to play across the line get caught in front of the stumps, from here it was a procession with the bowling all rounder IrfanPathan playing no part.
Mendis used the pace in the wicket to good effect with some stunning flippers, i feel he is a bowler like Kumble and to an extend like Chandra, he has a very peculiar action and uses his index finger to deliver. I am pretty sure that the batsmen around the world will quickly adjust to this and play normally but he should be very handy if he keeps his line and length and the pitch is quick.
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Vasu.. replace the words "flipper" with "flicker" when it comes to mendis. What a different grip and delivery of the ball he has got. It will take some time and lot of video analysis for the batsmen to come in terms with him.. that too in the spin friendly tracks of Srilanka. It will be good to see how the south africans, England and west indian players struggle to play him. Srilanka always manage to find some bowlers with awkward action but effective bowling .. malinga, murali, mendis.. goes on
Yes, you are correct its not going to be easy for England and the SouthAfricans to counter the awkward action and the flickers.
I think SriLanka does not have a structured domestic cricket like India,Australia or the England where there are lots and lots of coaching camps to nurture the young talent. In the process they kill the uniqueness from the kids, where in country's srilanka,west indies and to an extend pakistan look out for youngsters who show promise and dont care about the style in which he bats or bowls.
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