Chandimal praises opening bat Mendis
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has praised opening batsman Kusal Mendis after a prolific tour to Bangladesh that saw the visitors win the Test series and sweep the T20Is.
Once hailed as a successor to Kumar Sangakkara in the middle-order, Mendis was dropped for the tour to India late last year due to poor form.
He was recalled for the games against the Tigers in the unfamiliar role of opening batsman and certainly took his chances.
After a rather modest ODI tri-series, also involving Zimbabwe, that the tourists won, Mendis struck 196 in the first Test in Chittagong followed by a crucial 68 in the second match in Mirpur as the visitors won the two-match series one-nil.
Then called up as a replacement for Kusal Perera for the T20s, Mendis showed he can be explosive at the top of the order with scores of 53 and 70 as Sri Lanka won both games convincingly in the shortest format.
Chandimal said: “He played a couple of matches as an opener at the very start of his career, and after that he batted at 3 and 4.
“On this tour, we had a chat we thought that he was a suitable opener, and we can get the right-hand/left-hand combination at the same time.
“I think he grabbed all the opportunities. That was really good. Now, there is so much competition in our team. That’s a really good sign.”
The Sri Lanka skipper also said that they will take plenty of confidence from the successful tour after a couple of years of disappointing results.
Sri Lanka lost 23 out of 29 games in ODI cricket last year and also came up short in eight consecutive T20Is.
Chandimal continued: “We had a really bad couple of years. I think now players are getting some confidence and trust.
“That’s the main thing. We didn’t just play as a team, we played as a family. That’s the main thing. We’ve got a good mix of seniors and youngsters now.”
Latest
-
Women's Cricket
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.