So, I do see that Mendis has again been dropped by Srilanka as he has been a bit lackluster against Pakistan.
So have the Pakistani players worked him out? Surely they have played him better as they have played him on the front foot and not looked to sit on the back foot, they haven't played him for turn and they have picked him off the wicket which on the slower wickets of Lanka can be done.
So can Mendis come back? of course most other teams still haven't faced him and with his variations like the carom ball, googly, off spin etc he still can be a handful, but there is no doubt that Pakistan's team have played him well.
I also do think that on slower wickets Mendis has bowled too short and he has to pitch it up further so, that batsmen don't pick him off the wicket.
2 comments:
First of all, a nice new look to the blog. Congratulations!
Mendis made his name against mainly India initially. Indians couldn't read him. On the other hand Pakistan played him far better from the beginning. Current Pakistan batsmen have a better sense against spin than Indians.
Somewhere tucked inside my blog is an article examining Mendis' performance after a decent time interval after his debut. India skewed his figures.
Then Pakistan had a good look at him on the flat pitches during the interrupted tour.
I haven't watched Mendis bowl much recently, I haven't watched a lot of cricket in recent times in fact...it is possible that he is tending to become impatient and trying a bit too hard for results like he has gotten used to.
In the process he may be bowling quicker and flatter...maybe therefore shorter. Yes, by slowing down and showing greater patience, he might be back to his old ways.
Kumble and Saqi showed that you need just that much of spin to befool. Mendis does the same...with the variety being an additional weapon.
Like Terry Jenner suggested in his early international days after the Indian series to Lanka, he may have to decide which one will be his stock ball and slip in the rest as surprise elements. For as time goes by and people study him, his variety loses the surprise element. He too hasn't been careful and has employed the entire range frequently enough for everyone to record and study him.
Terry Jenner suggested that such a thing could happen.
Mendis will be a weapon always, but to be a potent weapon, he needs to be craftier and more selective in how he bowles. And if he keeps taking wickets, he will be playing a lot of cricket of all kinds and everybody will have a chance to look at thim and have a go at him. The selectiveness and craft will then come into the picture.
Patience is of course key and he will have to get used to the idea that he will have to work out and lure players increasingly.
SB,
Thanks. I have seen a little bit of Mendis in recent times and it looked like he was impatient and was trying to take wickets with every ball and in that process was bowling short.
He still should be a force to reckon with against NZ though!
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