By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Former Sri Lanka under 19 captain Kamindu Mendis has been selected to the national team for the first time to play the one and only T20 game against England which is scheduled to be played on 27th at the R. Premadasa International cricket stadium.
Kamindu, a former Richmond college all-rounder, has been a captain at school level and also led the youth national team a few occasions. He has been in good form in the recent mercantile cricket tournament and had already shown to be a promising cricketer for the future. Young ambidextrous bowler, played against the visiting England in the warm-up game and made a good knock of 66 with superb stroke play all around the ground.
However it is argued that if T20 format would be the correct format to introduce a cricketing prospect who had got plenty of talent and cricketing techniques to embark on a long career. A delighted school coach Dhammika Sudharshana said that he was happy to see that Kamindu is making strides towards the national team. “He has got genuine cricketing talents and is working hard to improve on correct techniques of the sport” said Sudarshana.
Kamnidu Mendis has captained the national under 19 side to last World Cup in New Zealand. Kamindu had shown promise to be a good top order left handed batsman while his ambidextrous spin bowling has been very useful for any side. Young and athletic Kamindu, has shown brilliance in fileding at any position in the field.
Sri Lanka’s under 19 coach to the world cup Roy Dias, who himself a batsman with a sound technique said Kamindu has got a correct technique in this batting and his approach to the game is very positive. “We have very few batsmen like Kamindu Mendis, who has got a natural approach to cricket’s correct techniques, we need to protect these talents and use them at the correct format” said Roy Dias.
Sri Lanka T20 team will be led by Thisara Perera with Test and ODI captain Dinesh Chandimal being in the squad. Both injured Kusal Janith Perera and out of form Kusal Mendis had been included in the team, while the latter was able to make a blazing 56 in the final ODI against England to mark his first 50 in last 23 innings.
Sri Lanka squad: Thisara Perea (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Dusmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan.
Stand By: Amila Aponso, Sadeera Samarawickreme, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shehan Madusanka
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