Young Kusal Mendis made a strong comeback to the Sri Lankan side in Bangladesh after being dropped for the tour of India in November last year. He made a career-best 196 in the opening Test in Chittagong and was one of the two batsmen to make a half-century in the second Test which was dominated by the bowlers. Mendis, who turned 23 earlier this month, was named Player of the Series in the T20s that followed after finishing with back-to-back half-centuries.
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“It has been a good start to the year. We have a lot of cricket in 2018 and we are confident of doing well this year. Personally, achieving the double of scoring 1000 runs in Tests and 1000 in ODIs is something that I want to achieve this year. We have got about ten Test matches for the rest of the year and I believe I can get to that landmark. It is important to have small targets and keep working towards them,” Mendis told Cricbuzz.
Mendis had an opportunity to post a maiden double hundred in Chittagong but his attempt to get to the milestone with a boundary by playing a flick against the spin brought his downfall. It happened last year as well in Galle when, on 194, he tried to get to the double hundred with a six and was caught at long-on.
“It keeps happening isn’t it? It has happened twice now. Guys in the change room were disappointed that I couldn’t get there. Some were saying that I will regret it in a few years time. I felt bad about it. Maybe next time I shouldn’t try to get there with a boundary. Picking up a few singles will be a better way to get to the milestone,” he remarked.
His marathon knock was crucial in the context of the game. Bangladesh had posted 513 runs in the first innings and then Sri Lanka had lost the experienced Dimuth Karunaratne with no run on the board. “We knew that if they could post 500 runs we had the quality to score more than them. We were calm in the dressing room. However, once Dimuth was dismissed without scoring, it put me under some pressure. He has been a very consistent batsman for us. But then Dananjaya (de Silva) came and started playing some shots and I felt comfortable again with the field spreading out,” Mendis explained.
As he was making a comeback to the side, when the team management decided to send him as an opener, there were a few concerns but the ploy worked. Bangladesh had packed their side with spinners and Mendis, considered one of the best players of spin bowling in Sri Lanka, was up to the task.
Photos: Sri Lanka cricket team’s arrival from Bangladesh
Media Briefing to discuss the outcome of Sri Lanka team’s concluded tour to Bangladesh
“I was asked whether I could open, I was a bit reluctant. Once the head coach pointed out that he has the confidence in me that I could do the job, that’s all what I wanted. When the coach is backing you, your confidence level goes up. I was told that this was not going to be a permanent thing and it could change according to opposition and conditions,” Mendis went onto say.
Sri Lanka’s preparation will begin in a couple of days’ time for the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy and Mendis is looking forward for the opportunity. “We were not too successful in India and we struggled when we played them at home as well. The good thing is that we have got our confidence back. I am sure India will be expecting us to be more competitive as well. We are hoping to give them a good contest.”
