Ajantha an answer to a prayer

Richard Dwight

Since the Silva’s, DS and Ajit moved away at relevant periods from the spinning arena here - there hasn’t been a frontline spinner of class to play the supportive role, bowling in tandem with Sri Lanka’s wizard of a spinner, Murali. Or if needs be, to eventually take over from Murali, when he calls it a day.

As years sped on, with Murali the spinning record holder at 36, there loomed the disturbing prospect of there being no spinner of proven quality, to partner Murali.

For the reason that many a spinner was tried, but they failed to make the right kind of impact, to warrant continuity at the international level. Save for the odd one or two, their exit was far more quicker than their entry.

With time not being on our side, there was naturally a sense of urgency and anguish amongst the many, who have the future of Sri Lanka cricket at heart, not forgetting the yearning and pleas, they made to the heavens above.

And it was as if though, to reassure and restore hope that had almost gone, that, Ajantha Mendis, burst into the firmament of Sri Lanka cricket, with an unprecedented sensational bang for a newcomer, that perhaps has no parallel either, in the Asia cup tournament.

Many Sri Lankans must have surely heaved a sigh of relief, in the coming to be of Ajantha. We know that as a spinner of the ball Ajantha claimed 17 wickets at the recently concluded Asia Cup - His 6 against India in the final, won him the Man of the Match award and the man of the series award a fantastic achievement indeed for a fresher at the highest level of cricket.

Amongst the 6 wickets he took against India, we will descriptively touch on 3 that he took - Sehwag who was hell bent on demolishing Ajantha, was cleverly drawn out, for the ball to elude him and Sangakkara did the rest, he was completely foxed to look silly.

Yuvraj Singh’s two leg were interlocked at the crease, with the bat wedged between, and with hardly any movement, the ball sailed through to floor the stumps. Left hander Suresh Raina couldn’t make up his mind to go forward or back, he stayed put to see his stumps rattled.

This was sensational bowling of a high order where Ajantha Stamped his authority with much finesse.

The characteristic feature of Ajantha is, that his mannerism and gestures do not suggest that he is a spinner of the ball, nor does his run up, which in a sense could be most baffling in the main.

According to Ian Chappell, Ajantha isn’t a wider turner of the ball, for he serves it right up and, in a subtle way moves it in or out to be deceptive in a mystifying way, he also added that Ajantha has quite a few variations, which makes it difficult for the batsman to easily read.

The 23 year old Ajantha’s bowling prowess and his recent heroic achievements, become all the more commendable to be most touching, when we learn that he comes from a very humble background, a simple little home and an equally lowly neighbourhood within Moratumulla.

He is the second among four children, of two sisters and two brothers, his younger brother is in the seminary preparing to be a priest. Ajantha lost his father, Vinsal Mendis, a carpenter four years ago, whilst his mother Ranjini works as a supervisor of at Oxford Garments Ratmalana. Ajantha had his primary education at St. Anthony’s Kadalana and his secondary at Moratu Vidyalaya where he played cricket.

He had a fondness for softball cricket, and was often found indulging in it, at the Moratumulla, Methodist High School grounds, he currently represents the army where he serves, at cricket.

Given to sober disciplined ways, he was a man of quiet disposition, to be everso modest and endeared himself to the people of the area. Evidence of this is seen in the carnival atmosphere that prevails in the neighbourhood where Ajantha lives.

The army and the SLC must treat him as a treasure and so nurture him by providing him with the facilities required for further progress. And thus from the lowly home in Moratumulla was unearthed a gem of a bowler - often great gifts we know have had their origins from small places like this.