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Untitled Document
 Why Mendis is difficult to crack
19th Aug 2008 22:03 IST
Agencies
The state-of-the-art cricketing equipment make it difficult to crack an already cryptic bowling action of spinner Ajantha Mendis, feels a sports expert.
"Modern gears utilised in cricket today perhaps insulates the feeling from the ball as it comes to the bat," said former Sri Lankan cricketer and sports expert Ranil Abeynaike said in Dambulla.
"Batsmen a few years ago could have read Mendis better if he had been bowling at that time," he added.
However, he feels Indian batsmen can crack him if they watch every ball of his.
"The Indian batsmen will have to play according to each ball of Mendis and would have to observe him while taking him on. Every bowler has some distinct pattern of bowling either through his shoulder movement or hand action and that is what could be central to tackle Mendis," he said.
Asked if the Indians should opt for swatting the spinner who has several varieties in his arsenal, Abeynaike felt it would not be the proper method of tackling him.
Yuvraj Singh, who perhaps opted for a similar strategy, managed to hit the Sri Lankan lethal spinner for a six but fell in the next ball in the series opener yesterday as Mendis beguiled him with a beauty that hit his stump.
Abeynaike said till the time the Indian batsmen came to terms with gauging Mendis, they should try to play him off and concentrate on other bowlers to add to the scoreboard.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is of the view that the key to handle the mystery bowler effectively lies in playing against him on consistent basis.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has also admitted it was not easy to play Mendis.
"I still have problems facing him," he said. |
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