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Second Lieutenant in Sri Lankan armyis one of the latest to the list of the
funny named player in Sri Lankan cricket team As lengthy his name is; so are his variations,he is one of those
bowlers who can ball a mixture of deliveries, including googlies, off-breaks, top-spinners, flippers and leg-breaks,
as well as the Carrom Ball, released with a flick of his middle finger.His appearance in international cricket turned
out to be the answer for͚who will replace Muttiah Muralitharan?͛

After having a strong domestic seasonMendis made his One day debut at the year 2008 against Caribbean͚s.He
made an impressive start with a figure of 3 for 39. He made his test Debut on 2008 against India where he
continued his stunning performance by picking up 8 wickets. His potential to ball with different variations gave him
the nick name of ͚The Mysterious Bowler͛.

The young charismatic bowler came to the lamplight when he took 6 wickets for 13 later that year in the finals of
Asia Cup.On September 10, 2008, Ajantha Mendis won the ͞Emerging Player of the Year͟ award.Soon Ajanta
Mendis come under the microscope of critics because of his poor form.

After a poor performance; Mendis made his comeback to the test team against India and made an emphatic
statement with a figure of 6 for 67.

His performance proved to be better after trying to overcome his technical flaws in his balling, but it was true that
a ͚bit better͛ wouldn͛t be enough to survive in international cricket

The Mysterious Facts:

1. His first class record is quite astonishing - 19 matches, 111 wickets at an average of 14.5.

2. His List A record even more so - 20 matches, 40 wickets at an average of 11.5.

3. In his maiden test half century he faced maximum balls that any other player in his team, which is very rare
experience for a number 10 batsmen.

4. He has a record of completing the fastest 50 wickets in just 19 matches.

5. With a figure of 8 for 32 he became the first Sri Lankan bowler to get an eight-wicket haul on Test debut.