[Video] The Carrom Ball | Ajantha Mendis Vs Rohit Sharma 2008

From The 2008 Asia Cup Final | Sri Lanka Vs India

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[Video] Sri Lanka Vs India | Asia Cup Finals 2008

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Final: India v Sri Lanka at Karachi - Jul 6, 2008
Sri Lanka won by 100 runs. Scorecard

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Sri Lanka Army’s Sensational Spinner Ajantha Mendis Promoted

New spin sensation Ajantha Mendis has been promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Army.

"GUNNER Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis (S/158405) of Sri Lanka Artillery who created history in the Asia Cup Tournament, bringing laurels not only to the Sri Lanka Army but also to the entire Nation was promoted to the rank of Sergeant last evening (7) on the instructions of Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka in recognition of his achievements." states the official website of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. +/- Expand Post

[Video] The Mystery Spinner | Ajantha Mendis 6/13 Vs India| Asia Cup Final 2008

Courier Mail(AUS): WORLD cricket has a new Muttiah Muralidaran, with a freakish Sri Lankan mystery spinner taking the game where it has never been before.
Part-time Sri Lankan army trooper Ajantha Mendis is turning cricket on its head with his mesmeric brand of spin which defies convention and includes offbreaks, legbreaks, googlies and topspinners.

The 23-year-old Mendis, who took an amazing 6-13 against India in the final of the Asia Cup this week, is basically two spinners rolled into one because he has no stock delivery and turns the ball both ways.

Although still officially classified as a slow-medium bowler, the 23-year-old can spin the ball at right angles and is harder to pick than Muralidaran.

Mendis has also has invented a new delivery – the "carrom" or "flicker" ball – which he releases with a deadly snap of his strong middle finger and could result in an off-break, a leg-break, a googly or even a zooter. He claims his mystery ball spins randomly depending on the time of release and the world's top batsmen admit they are clueless.

Ajantha Mendis on Debut for Kolkata Knight Riders

Indian skipper M. S. Dhoni conceded his batsmen, some of the world's best players of spin, had succumbed to "Mendis phobia" during one of the most amazing bowling spells ever in the Asia Cup final.

"I think he was too hot to handle. We were playing him for the first time and he was lethal. In fact none of us could pick him," Dhoni said.

Mendis, who has 20 wickets at an average of 10 from his eight ODIs, has been compared to former Australian mystery spinner John Gleeson but appears to have more tricks.

Mendis, yet to play a Test, is still in the formative stages of his career but perhaps his greatest achievement so far is overshadowing the great Muralidaran at the other end.

Mendis was named man of the tournament in the Asia Cup for his 17 wickets at 8.5.

The International Cricket Council is under increasing pressure to shift September's Champions Trophy from Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack in Islamabad killed at least 17 people.

Islamabad is one of three Pakistani cities scheduled to host trophy matches and it now appears the ICC will have little choice but to relocate the tournament, possibly to South Africa or Sri Lanka.

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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 125 (114) Vs India - 2008

The subcontinent has generally had the problem, almost impossible to prove but privately acknowledged, of over-aged players in age-group cricket.

Conversely, it allows players to stay on beyond their sell-by date. On Sunday, at the National Stadium in Karachi, Sanath Jayasuriya - 39 years and six days old - turned both concepts on their head as he plundered 125 off 114 balls. Writes Sidharth Monga for Cricinfo. +/- Expand Post

[Video] Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh | 9th Match, Super Fours Asia Cup 2008

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9th Match, Super Four: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka at Karachi - Jun 30, 2008
Sri Lanka 332/8 (50 ov); Bangladesh 174 (38.3 ov)

Scorecard (Courtesy Cricinfo)



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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 130 (88) Vs Bangladesh | Asia Cup 2008

Not long ago, though, Jayasuriya was too old and too out of form to be playing the young man's game of limited-overs cricket. When he was dropped for the West Indies ODIs earlier this year, he had gone 20 innings without having scored a half-century. "Due respect to selectors too, because when they dropped him he wasn't in form; he wasn't scoring runs," Jayawardene said. "They had to look at the future too."

Despite his replacements not doing well, Sri Lanka chose to persist with them. The selectors had picked a squad - excluding Jayasuriya - for the Asia Cup as well, but a not-so-happy sports minister delayed in ratifying it, in which time Jayasuriya made his case with a sizzling century for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. The result: he won back his place.

Sanath Jayasuriya 114 Vs CSK | 2008

He chose the perfect day to score his first century on return to the national side - the day he turned 39.

Some of his team-mates hadn't even made it to primary school when Jayasuriya had made his debut. "He doesn't surprise me. I have been lucky to have him; his attitude is the same, he hasn't changed." It's just as well that Jayasuriya doesn't change, as 52 days from now he can have a go at another record: become the oldest man to score an ODI century. Are we being greedy if we ask the oldest centurion to score one that challenges the fastest one too?

- Writes Sidharth Monga in an article titled 'Records don't awe ageless Jayasuriya' for Cricinfo.



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[Video] Ajantha Mendis 4/47 Vs Pakistan | 2008

Unravelling the Mendis mystery

The Hindu: It was Mahela Jayawardene’s press conference and mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who mixes up his off-breaks and googlies, ruled. The incessant queries about Mendis left Jayawardene a touch bemused in the press conference here on Sunday night.

Jayawardene stressed that the quirky spinner’s style has been allowed to blossom. “We encourage our cricketers to play their natural game. It helps that we have Murali around to guide Mendis, who is very talented.

“Right now, we are letting him do what he is most comfortable with. I do discuss field settings with him before a match in terms of the kind of field he needs for his different deliveries,” the Sri Lankan skipper added.

Laced with humour

What about his leg spin was the next query and Jayawardene cheekily replied, “Ah! does he bowl leg-spin?” And the skipper continued to patiently answer queries on Mendis, who bagged four wickets against Pakistan.

Jayawardene’s humour surfaced when asked about the back-to-back matches for both Sri Lanka and India in the STAR Cricket Asia Cup.

“I guess it is home advantage for Pakistan but we will make sure that the next time we have the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, we will give back-to-back matches for Pakistan,” Jayawardene said and laughed.

Jayawardene praised Kumar Sangakkara’s effort. “Sanga’s century was among the best I have seen. It was essential that one of us stayed all the way through. With Sanath leaving early and I getting dismissed while going for quick runs, it was important for Sanga to be there,” Jayawardene said.

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Asia Cup 2008 points table

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[Video] Sri Lanka VS Pakistan | Asia Cup 2008 Super Four

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8th Match, Super Four: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Karachi - Jun 29, 2008
Sri Lanka won by 64 runs.

Scorecard (courtesy Cricinfo) +/- Expand Post

[Video] Mahela Udawatte 67 (74) Vs UAE | Asia Cup 2008

Mahela Udawatte top scored for Sri Lanka with a characteristic aggressive 67 against UAE. It appears Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Udawatte may open the batting from this point onwards in the Asia cup with Sangakkara coming in at number 3.

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[Video] Chamara Kapugedera Brilliant Run Out | Asia Cup 2008

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From Sri Lanka Vs UAE Asia cup 2008 Match 6 +/- Expand Post

[Video] The Mystery Spinner Ajantha Mendis 5/22 Vs UAE | Asia Cup 2008

Mendis spins Sri Lanka to victory

LAHORE: Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis took five wickets to help Sri Lanka beat United Arab Emirates by 142 runs in the last Group ‘A’ match of the Asia Cup here on Thursday.

Sri Lanka made 290 for nine off its 50 overs before Mendis spun out UAE for 148 in 36.3 overs with a five-wicket burst.

UAE was briefly in the hunt when opening batsman Amjad Ali hit 12 boundaries in his 79-ball innings of 77 before wickets fell at regular intervals once Mendis came on to bowl.

The victory helped defending champion Sri Lanka stay unbeaten in the group. Bangladesh, which lost to Sri Lanka, also qualified for the Super Four stage through its victory over UAE. — AP

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[Video] Sri Lanka VS UAE | Asia Cup 2008 6th Match

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6th Match, Group A: Sri Lanka v United Arab Emirates at Lahore - Jun 26, 2008
Sri Lanka won by 142 runs. +/- Expand Post

[Video] A chat with Sangakkara ahead of Match 6 | Asia Cup 2008

Pre match interview with Kumar Sangakkara during the Asia Cup encounter between Sri Lanka & UAE. Courtesy ESPN/STAR & ATN CricketPlus.

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[Video] Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh | Asia Cup 2008 - 3rd match Group A

3rd Match, Group A: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka at Lahore - Jun 25, 2008
Sri Lanka won by 131 runs.

Scorecard (Courtesy Cricinfo)

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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 72 (47) Vs Bangladesh | Asia Cup 2008

Sanath starts off the tourney where he left off at the IPL.



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Sanath still going strong | SkySports

SkySports: Sri Lankan veteran Sanath Jayasuriya insists he still has some cricket left in him as he approaches his 39th birthday.


Many thought the exciting left-hander's career was over when he was dropped for the one-day series against the West Indies in April after retiring from Test cricket in December.

Jayasuriya says that decision was the right one after he failed to hit a 50 in 20 innings, but he responded with some fine displays in the Indian Premier League last month.

His Tweny20 form has now seen him recalled by the Sri Lankan selectors and the former skipper will now play in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

As he prepares for the one-day tournament, Jayasuriya insists that his age will not stop him from playing top level cricket, with his 39th birthday coming up at the end of June.

"I realise I still have cricket left in me, but the thing is to perform," Jayasuriya told Reuters.

"When you perform, age does not come into question.

"I accept I did not play well during the last six months. Getting 30s and 40s wasn't helping the team (and) they dropped me, which was quite alright."


Veteran

A veteran of 411 one day internationals, Jayasuriya was happy he returned to the side after quitting because of a row with selectors in 2006, but insisted he got the timing of his Test retirement spot on.

"I proved them (detractors) wrong, playing good cricket when I came back again," he added.

"Then I decided during the (2007) England test series that I should retire and make way.

I'm happy I did that on my own terms."


One of just seven men to pas 10,000 runs in international one day cricket, Jayasuriya hit 467 runs to help Sri Lanka to the 2007 World Cup final.

The 1996 World Cup winner could even equal Javed Miandad's record of six appearances at the tournament, but he insists he is not looking that far ahead.

With still three years until the 2011 World Cup, Jayasuriya knows that as soon as his performances drop, then his age will be mentioned as a negative factor.

"I am not thinking that far as yet," he said. "At the moment I am taking it series by series and let's see how it goes.

"You need a lot more training and dedication when you come to this stage. I'm working hard, I'll see what I do in the next few series and see how it goes.

"I need to keep my performance high all the time.

"When you are 38-39, you need to perform on all the tours, otherwise age will be spoken as a factor." +/- Expand Post

Sri Lanka recall Jayasuriya to Asia Cup squad

COLOMBO, May 16 (Reuters) - Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya has been recalled to Sri Lanka's one-day squad for the Asia Cup in June.

Jayasuriya, 38, was dropped for Sri Lanka's West Indies series in April after a lean run that included a highest score of 41 in his previous 20 innings.

However, the opening batsman won his place back in the team after smashing 114 from 48 balls for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, an innings that included 11 sixes and nine fours.

Opener Upul Tharanga was axed to make room for Jayasuriya who will open the batting with Mahela Udawatte, who made his debut in the West Indies.

Sri Lanka also included spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who was rested for the West Indies tour.

All rounder Farveez Maharoof and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando returned to the squad in place of pace bowlers Thilan Thushara and Ishara Amarasinghe.

The six-nation Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan from June 24 to July 6.

Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Kaushal Weeraratne, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Nuwan Kulasekera

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