Mendis aiming to make bowlers tired of him

SL No. 3 ready to curb attacking instincts

ESPNCricinfo: While other Sri Lanka batsmen have spoken of embracing positivity at the crease against a strong England attack, the youngest man in the top order has instead begun to focus on batting time. Impulsive, raw and attacking, 21-year-old Kusal Mendis may average less than 30 in 10 Test innings so far, but coaches and selectors have seen in him a spark that could be fanned into flame.

Mendis hit Sri Lanka’s sole half-century in a woeful Headingley Test, and made two starts at Chester-le-Street. Sri Lanka appear happy to give him a longer run in the No. 3 spot, where he has said he feels comfortable and where he has contributed more substantial innings than many of his team-mates. Having hit 114 runs from 154 balls this series, the batsman himself has set sights on playing longer innings.

“We have realised that the key is to let the England bowlers go for more spells,” Mendis said. “We will have a few plans and it’s only natural that a bowler, when he bowls fourth or fifth spell, he will leak runs. If we can bat for longer, we will be able to achieve our targets more easily. We have had about five very good days of training leading up to the Lord’s Test. We will talk about all these areas.”

Kusal Mendis provided a bright spot for Sri Lanka in the Headingley Test – Getty Images

Sri Lanka had employed the “tiring” tactics with some success against Yasir Shah in 2015, when Angelo Mathews, in particular, had first dead-batted, then scored freely off the legspinner’s later spells in Pallekele. Mendis’ survival early in his innings here may depend on how well he can avoid the traps England set for his leg-side dominant play.

“England tried out a few things in the second Test and I realised that,” Mendis said. “I know what’s coming at Lord’s. They will deny me any runs on the leg side. That’s the challenge. The coach and captain had a chat with me and we will come up with some counter moves where I will try and score on the off side.”

Mendis was the captain of Sri Lanka’s Under-19 side in 2014 – a year in which he also earned a cricket scholarship to play in the Middlesex Leagues. He said he owed much of his success to his family - particularly his father, who is a three-wheeler driver by trade.

“My father was the biggest strength for my cricket. Other than that, a lot of coaches and many other individuals have helped me. I get a lot of support from my captain, vice-captain, coach and the management. Even though I’m the youngest member of the team, they don’t treat me any differently. Whether I’m doing well or have a bad game I feel that support.”

For now, Mendis has been weaned at the international level on Tests only. But his strike rate in the longest format suggests he could be an option for Sri Lanka in limited-overs crickets as well.

“My biggest ambition was representing my country. I was thrilled when I made my Test debut against West Indies last year. Then I toured New Zealand and now I am here. I hope I will stay in the team for a long time.”