Former star Roy Dias was the fastest Sri Lankan to 1000 Test runs having reached the milestone in 23 innings. After eight innings in Test match cricket, Kamindu Mendis has scored 627 runs and needless to say that he will own the Sri Lankan record soon. But here’s the interesting part. If his purple patch continues, he could break the World Record too.
Englishman Herbert Sutcliffe was the quickest to the milestone having reached there in 12 innings. That was 99 years ago. Sir Everton Weekes equalled that record in 12 innings in Bombay in 1949. Sir Don Bradman fell narrowly short of the milestone having got there in 13 innings.
Kamindu has three more innings in England to break the record. He needs to score a big hundred in England if he is to get there. Considering he bats at number seven it is unlikely, but he has a chance to at least equal the record back home in Galle where he will play his 12th innings in Test cricket against the Kiwis.
It has been a superb display by the former Richmond College and Sri Lanka Under-19 captain. He has hardly put a foot wrong since his impressive debut against Australia two years ago.
Most batters struggle when they come to England, but Kamindu has felt comfortable here. He negotiated the moving ball well getting behind the line. His defense is tight and then when loose balls are offered he cashes in.
Playing the initial Tests in Asia, he was playing the cuts and the pulls so well but in England he has played some exquisite drives and flicks as well and has been comfortable scoring runs straight down the wicket, something so important in England.
On Friday, Sri Lanka’s batters were all at sea against the moving ball. England had planned well setting traps and Sri Lanka slumped to 87 for six and there was little hope at that stage. But how well Kamindu batted digging his side out of trouble. With little more assistance from the tail, he could have gone onto put his name in the Lord’s honours board.
There’s another Sri Lankan who put his name in the Lord’s honours board. Asitha Fernando took a five wicket haul and became the second Sri Lankan after Rumesh Ratnayake to do it. Eight Sri Lankan batters have scored hundreds at Lord’s but only two bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings and Asitha’s is certainly a rare achievement. He has been a gem of a find as well and he will go onto achieve much more in Test cricket.
Coming back to Kamindu, he looks well organized. He has a game plan and above all else his maturity augurs well moving forward.
Maturity can be seen by how players go about things on the field. But what you have been seeing off the field is very interesting as well. One of his sixes landed at MCC Members’ Pavilion and two gentlemen were hurt after the ball hit them.
As he was dismissed and when he walked back to the dressing room, he stopped by to inquire about the wellbeing of the two gentlemen before entering the long room. Apparently, after day’s play he met the two MCC members and chatted to them.
Most young players are shy of speaking to the press. Not Kamindu. He attends media briefings and chats so cleverly. You see in him a young Angelo Mathews when he started career. The moment you saw Mathews, you knew that this guy is special. The same could be said of Kamindu. But what he should target is to become a Kumar Sangakkara. If that happens, Sri Lankan cricket is in the safe hands for the next ten years.
There has been lot of praise for Kamindu from the British press. He took guard middle stump at Old Trafford and having noticed his mode of dismissals, he took off-stump guard at Lord’s before another solid knock. He is a quick learner.
Sri Lanka are paying the price for some poor decisions. At Old Trafford when it was overcast and gloomy, they elected to bat first. At Lord’s when it is sunny and perfect conditions for batting, they opted to bowl first. There’s no need to overcomplicate things. Just stick to the basics. This series could have been a lot closer had they done it.
Still, all is not lost for Sri Lanka. In 2006, at Lord’s, they were forced to follow on with more than 350 runs behind. Mahela Jayawardene scored a hundred and six others chipped in with half-centuries to help Sri Lanka draw the game and salvage some pride. Another gritty effort here would be nice for them.
