Carrom Fodder

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ALL SMILES: The Sri Lankan players exit the field following their comprehensive win over India in the first Test.

And the carrom-bowler has even added his coach to the list of those he has bamboozled with his unique deliveries.

"I could tell you about his variations if I knew what they were," said Trevor Bayliss after Mendis impressed during his debut series in the Caribbean.

But the most glowing tribute to the youngster must come from his spin-twin, the world's highest Test wicket-taker: Muralitharan. The doosra-master said after the SSC victory over India that Mendis' start to his Test career was better than that of his own and of Warne, many years before.

"Ajantha Mendis was once again exceptional and he fully deserved his first five-wicket haul in Tests," said Murali in one of his [ITALIC] Times of India columns, last month.

"It took a while for me and Shane Warne to influence a Test match like he is doing already. He has claimed 14 Test wickets and we are only mid-way through his second Test. That is a special start by anyone's standards," Murali wrote.

So how would Mendis describe the carrom ball, in his own words? The answer is, he wouldn't. "It is difficult to describe it," he tells Middle East Cricket. "It is my own invention, and I did it when I first started playing soft-ball cricket."

So not much luck by way of trade secrets there; understandably, Mendis is keeping the secrets of his fledgeling success under wraps for the time being.

"It's a great feeling to be an international cricketer," he continues. "I am sure it is the dream of any young cricketer. The army gave me my first exposure to cricket at first-class level, and with it I was taught the discipline and commitment needed. Obviously my family and friends are very happy for me."

As a spin bowler, Mendis has it all to come, in view of his prodigious talent.

There have been magical spinners in the past, who have posted amazing debuts - Narendra Hirwani and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, to name but two - who arrived on the international scene with a bang but left shortly afterwards with a fizzle after batsmen learnt to read them.

This must surely be a worry for a youngster like Mendis. It won't be the first time that a spin bowler is found out by the heightened skills of Test match cricket. So how does he feel about the risks of playing at this level?

"I have really not thought about it for now," he admits. "Of course, it is a challenge when the batsmen start reading you. But for me it will be my effort to overcome it."

"To come up with something different every time they read me; that will be the challenge to take my game to the next level."

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