| Not Murali's heir, please |
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| Written by Jarrod Kimber | |
| Monday, 07 July 2008 | |
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It's exciting, but it still may not be the future of cricket.
I'm talking about Ajantha Mendis, the man who took India apart like they were a birthday cake. This will fall on deaf ears though, because I told people not to get too excited before, and people ignored me.
Yes last night was amazing.
Yes we have never seen anything quite like this young man. And Yes, the best players of spin in the world just got dissected. BUT, yet again in capitals for effect, he is a mystery spinner. Mystery Spinners are unplayable when they first get on the scene. Eventually they get worked out, then the only ones who stay around are the ones who are just good bowlers. Last night was the first time India had faced him, and they went him, even though they had no idea what he was doing. He won, they lost. Big time. What happens when all of his deliveries are worked out, when he is no longer a freak show, well then he will need to just be a good bowler. He may be, but don't think in 3 years times he will be taking 6 wicket hauls in one day games. Let's just sit back, so far he has not played against sides more than a couple of times. There has been no time to work him out. His domestic record is extraordinary, but it was in the second division of Sri Lanka's first class system, which would be the equivalent of grade cricket in Australia. So far he is doing everything right, and he is exciting, sexy, and doesn't look like he throws, so it's all good. Let's just see if he still doing this sort of stuff in 7 years like Warne, Murali and Kumble did. Ask John Gleeson or Jack Iverson what happened once people worked them out. For every Murali and Clarrie Grimmet, there is a bunch of guys with a card trick or three that get wickets, but they don't make up the future of the sport. So let the kid bowl, stop making him out to be the messiah. He's not even the best spinner in his country yet. I've watched the video, I've got the woody, the kid is amazing, but once he can be picked he won't be anywhere near as unplayable as last night. There is even a chance last night will be the highlight in his whole career. 6/13 in a final is a pretty good highlight. So let us just soak up the fact a young kid gutted India, and hope he continues to bowl this well.
(This post refers to
the finals of the Asia Cup, where Ashanta Mendis took 6 for 13 to help
India keep up their noble tradition of rewarding young, new cricketers
with dream starts to their careers)
(Jarrod can also be found on www.cricketwithballs.com. Click here to know more about him)
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