None can replicate my carrom ball: Mendis (Interview)

NEW DELHI - Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis says no spinner can replicate his unique carrom ball that has bamboozled world’s top batsmen including Sachin Tendulkar.

Mendis, who will be turning out for Sri Lankan team Wayamba Elevens in the Champions League Twenty20, seems to have inspired other spinners like Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla to develop their own mystery deliveries.

The 24-year-old Sri Lankan, however, is confident that it would be tough for other bowlers to crack the mystery.

“Some bowlers are trying to develop a similar delivery. But I am confident that

none can replicate my carrom ball. It came naturally to me and I didn’t develop it consciously. So I am confident that the carrom ball is unique and it has worked successfully for me,” Mendis told IANS in a free-wheeling interview, Sri Lankan all-rounder Jehan Mubaraka acting as interpretor.

Mendis was an instant success in international cricket as batsmen took some time reading him. Batsmen may have found him out, but he is confident that with his accuracy he can still tie them down.

“When I started playing international matches, batsmen especially Indians, who are great players of spin, had some trouble reading me. Now batsmen are getting used to my style. However reading is one thing and playing is another. As long as I bowl accurately, batsmen will have trouble playing me.”

The Sri Lankan Armyman feels that since the shorter formats of the game are heavily loaded in favour of batsmen, it is important for spinners to have variety.

“It is always good to have a variety in a spinner’s repertoire. At present, I am trying to polish my skills and concentrating on what I know. I have played just nine Test matches and as I progress I will surely try out new things,” he said.

Mendis is confident that his msytery ball will trouble batsmen in the

Champions League.

“Pitches in the sub-continent favour the spinners and that’s why Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) has tasted enormous success. So I don’t find any reason why I can’t pick wickets here. I have to just bowl accurately. I have seen that with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. Whenever I erred in line, he had hit me, but when I was accurate not only Dhoni but other players, too, had no other option but to defend,” he said.

Mendis said bowling to Indian batsmen is always a big challenge and is looking forward to a duel against Virender Sehwag, who will be turning out for Delhi Daredevils. A Mendis-Sehwag face-off will be on the cards Oct 11 at the Feroze Shah Kotla.

“Bowling to Virender Sehwag has been tough. When you are bowling to Sehwag there is no room for any margin of error. I am eager to bowl to him,” he said.

Mendis also lamented that he didn’t get much opportunity to play in the both the edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Sharing the Kolkata Knight Riders dressing room with some great cricketers was an experience. But I feel I should have got to play more in the IPL both in India and in South Africa,” he said.

Mendis said that for him Twenty20 is fun but he wants to play serious cricket — Tests and ODIs.

“I like to play all the three versions of the game. Twenty20 is fun and you have to bowl just four overs, no big deal. In 50 overs and Test cricket you have to outwit the batsman and thats a challenge for any bowler,” he said.