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Soldier creating history in International cricket
 Gunner Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis (S/158405)
of Sri Lanka Artillery created history in the Sri Lanka Army by being
the first-ever to enter the National Cricket Team of the country, now
played in the West Indies.
Sri Lanka Army Cricket Committee spotted his talents
when he played a cricket match against the Army under 23 Division 11
during 2003/2004 tournaments. The Army requested him to join the Regular
Force of Sri Lanka Army as there was a dearth of cricketers joining the
Army, particularly from Colombo schools. He accepted this offer since
his father who was the only bread-winner for the family had already
departed them following a heart attack, the week before.
After his basic recruit training he was straight away
drafted into the Army Cricket Pool by the Chairman, SL Army cricket.
From there onwards he was handled with greater care and guided properly
through turbulence. Being a hard working youngster and a quick learner,
Mendis was able to cement his place in the Army mainly due to his
talents in all three spheres. He was coached initially by Mr Saman
Hewawithrana and by Mr Neil Rajapaksha afterwards; both coaches did a
good job in guiding him. He has shown a steady progress in all the
tournaments organized hitherto by SL Cricket when representing the Army.
His first appearance for the Army was in the year 2004/2005 Sara Trophy
Tournament where he had mediocre performance. He hit a purple patch in
the following year in the same tournament and was awarded with the Best
All-Rounder's Trophy by the Sri Lanka Cricket. Incidentally, the Army
was promoted to play in the Premier Tournament from the following year
onwards. Mendis, to his credit represented the Army in the following
tournaments;
|
Date |
Match |
|
2004/2005 |
Sara Trophy Tournament |
|
2004/2005 |
Sara Limited Over Tournament |
|
2005/2006 |
Under 23 Division11 |
|
2005/2006 |
Sara Trophy Tournament |
|
2006/2007 |
Under 23 Division 1 Tournament |
|
2005/2006 |
Sara Limited Over Tournament |
|
2006/2007 |
Premier League Tournament |
|
2006/2007 |
Premier Limited Over Tournament |
|
2006/2007 |
Premier Promotion/ Relegation Tournament |
|
2007/2008 |
Under 23 Division 1 tournament |
|
2007/2008 |
Premier League Tournament |
|
2007/2008 |
Premier Limited Over Tournament |
To-date Mendis has represented the Army in 23 limited
over matches and 59 two/three day matches, in which he has 38 wickets
and 244 wickets respectively to his credit. Mendis bowls off spin as his
stock delivery and he has few more variations in his armory- leg spin,
top spin and faster bowl. All this was developed during 2006/2007
domestic seasons on his own. He also extended his purple patch in the
domestic season 2007/2008 under 23 division 1 tournament and was later
selected to the pool of "Academy Squad" organized by Sri Lanka Cricket.
There he was able to polish his cricketing skills further. He had the
opportunity of touring neighboring India on an eight-day tour in June
2007 where he was given the opportunity to play two, two-day matches. In
the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket selectors could not ignore his
performance in the Premier Limited Over Tournament 2007/2008 and got him
selected to play in the "Provincial Tournament 2008" representing "Wayamba
Province" under the National Captain. In that tournament he performed
exceptionally well with the ball. Local TV commentators predicted him as
the ideal replacement for spin wizard Murali in time to come and nick
named him as "Mysterious Bowler". His marvelous performance in the said
tournament got the National Selectors to observe him further closely. In
the just concluded domestic season in Premier League Tournament, he has
become the Most Successful Bowler by taking 68 wickets in nine matches
which is also a record in any form of domestic cricket. The
accomplishments of the Gunner Ajantha Mendis hit the pot of gold by
getting himself selected to "National One Day Squad" to tour West Indies
in March-April 2008.
Incidentally, this is the first occasion where a
member of the Sri Lanka Army was selected to represent the National Team
in cricket. Brig (Retd) H.I.K. Fernando had represented Ceylon against
visiting English men under the captaincy of Tony Lewis in 1970. He has
however represented Ceylon before joining the Army. Chairman SL Army
Cricket, Major General V.R. Silva says that he is very proud of this
soldier's achievements. In fact when the chairman spotted Mendis' talent
he expected him to walk into the National A team this year, but Mendis
bringing glory proved that he is good enough to be selected to the
National Squad. Chairman's prediction is that he should reach the
highest position in the National Cricket Team in the years to come.
Commander of the Army and all the members wish him very all the best in
the current tour of the West Indies.
Born in March 1985 Mendis hails from a hamlet in
Moratuwa. He is the third child in a family of five with an elder
brother and a sister. He has had his basic education at St Anthony's
College at Kadalana in his village where there were no facilities at all
for sports. He subsequently entered Moratuwa Maha Vidyalaya in the year
of 2000. During a cricket coaching class, Mendis' talents were initially
identified by the school coach named Mr Lucky Rogers back in the year
1998 when he was just 13 years of age. In the year 2000 he represented
the school under 15 cricket team and he was selected to the first eleven
team. He also deputized for the school team captain. This slow medium
bowler with a variation of leg spin was adjudged the Best Bowler at the
big-matches twice in 2001 and 2002.
Courtesy: Sri Lanka Army |
