Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya has highlighted Kamindu Mendis’ work ethic as the reason for his success in Test match cricket. The former Under-19 captain now has scored three Test hundreds and two half-centuries in Test match cricket although he has featured in only four Tests in his brief career.
Players often struggle on their first tour to England, but Kamindu looked at ease although he had been in the UK for less than a week when he scored the hundred on Saturday as his departure for London was delayed due to visa issue.
The great Kumar Sangakkara required three Test tours to England and had stints with Warwickshire and Durham before he scored his maiden Test hundred in England while the legendary Aravinda de Silva scored his first Test hundred in England in his fourth tour and having played a full season of County Cricket for Kent.
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Kamindu achieved the milestone in his first Test match itself and Jayasuriya was all praise for the 25-year-old. “Kamindu has a simple game plan. When you plan things out, it gets easier and he is a free flowing cricketer. He is very matured and knows his strengths and weaknesses. He is not the finished product yet, but he is a classy player. If you see his wagon wheel, he hits all-round the wicket. He drives, cuts, pulls works the singles and rotates the strike. He is just the complete package. His confidence is really high. Scoring a hundred in England is not easy. It’s a big challenge as the ball does something all the time. Hats off to the way he batted. You must see the way he practices in the nets. He bats for hours and hours and works hard when you do that you get results in the middle,” Jayasuriya told reporters.
Jayasuriya scored a double hundred in England when Sri Lanka won their first Test match in England in 1998 and it’s so far the only double hundred scored by a Sri Lankan here. He was confident that the team will do well despite going into the first Test without much preparation.
“I had the confidence they would. I saw that confidence during the ODI series against India. Told the public to have faith in the players. They proved that in that series. After the warm-up game I saw some areas where we needed to improve and we tried to overcome them during training. In the first innings we scored 236 and that was not enough but lower middle order showed that we can do it on that wicket. After that we gained a lot of confidence.”
“Coaching the team is my passion more than a job. I believe I am answerable for the people of my country. Although I am doing a part time job, I want to instill in them the thought you are playing for your country and when you do that, you play with passion.”
There’s a quick turnaround for the team before the second Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday and Jayasuriya wanted a better effort from the top order.
“I want the top order to bat well and one of them at least to get runs. Dimuth is batting well but unfortunately he is getting out in the 20s. That’s not enough. I am not putting any pressure on them. They are doing a lot of hard work at practices. It’s good that Chandimal, Mathews, Dhananjaya and Mialn scored some crucial runs and now if the top order can provide us a good start that would be ideal. As a bowling unit too, I want the seamers to be consistent. I am very happy with the performance at Old Trafford as we played good cricket and put England under pressure. I don’t think we have ever played in weather like that. I am sure they will be much better in London.”
“Confidence level is very high but we have to start from scratch again. It’s totally different conditions at Lord’s, wickets will be different and we can’t take things for granted. If somebody gets in, that person has to make a big one. I want a good long knock from one of the top order batters. Obviously our confidence levels are high going into the next Test. This is just the start we have a long way to go.”
Jayasuriya was also pleased with the improvements Asitha Fernando has made over the last two years. “Whenever he bowls he looks like he will get a wicket. But you need to support him from the other end. Asitha was outstanding in both innings. We talked about hitting the right lines and getting the length correct. He was very consistent. To come to England and bowl straight away in the right channels is not easy. He is a fast learner.”
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There was some criticism when Jayasuriya took over as coach last month with people questioning his coaching credentials. However, he has done well having helped Sri Lanka to a series win over India in 27 years and a come from behind series win in England will be appreciated.
“Constructive criticism I will always accept other things I take it off from my head. I have a job to do. SLC, support staff and cricketers have a lot of trust in me. In coaching, managing part is very important. Managing players is not easy. I know my culture and the Sri Lankan values are important for me.”
