Former England captain Michael Vaughan and former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has a different take on Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis, particularly his finger-spin. While Vaughan said Kamindu had no special qualifications, Gilchrist spoke highly of the Sri Lankan’s talent.
Kamindu Mendis emerged as the lone batsman for the tourists Sri Lanka Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against England at Lord’s. Mendis played a crucial knock of 74 runs to help Sri Lanka post 251 runs in their first innings against England at Lord’s.
Kamindu Mendis looks like a real player: Adam Gilchrist
Despite a valiant effort from Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka struggled throughout the day, with Mendis the only player to contribute significantly to their total. England won the ongoing second Test at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground by 427 runs in the first innings.
The all-rounder also scored a century in the first Test, but Sri Lanka slumped to a five-wicket defeat in Manchester to go down 0-1 to England in the ongoing three-match Test series. Kamindu Mendis is a slow left-arm orthodox and right-arm open-break bowler, but has not scored many wickets so far in the Test series in England.
Australian great Adam Gilchrist says he has not followed Kamindu Mendis’s century with England but predicts the Sri Lankan star will have a great career in Test cricket. Adam Gilchrist said on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast: “I looked at it; I saw Kamindu buy 100. He looks like a real player. And as you say, he has laid the foundation for a very good Test career.”
Bowling fingers swinging with both arms is very common these days: Michael Vaughan
Kamindu Mendis is a finger spinner with both arms and this unique ability which includes slow left arm orthodox and right arm spin makes him stand out in cricket. However, Michael Vaughan noted that such two-arm bowlers are becoming more common and are now more common among young cricketers, highlighting the growing trend of versatile bowling talent in the game.
Michael Vaughan said on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast: “It’s becoming a bit common now, isn’t it? I’ve seen too many of these kids do both.” Bowling with both arms presents unique challenges and rules. When switching between right arm and left arm, the driver must inform the referee before switching.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said the arrangement was vital to maintaining the integrity of the game, ensuring both the bowler and the batter were aware of changes during the game. Michael Vaughan added: “You have to tell the umpire and then the person who got hit is told. This is the rule I know.”
On the other hand, the legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist highlighted the growing debate about easing the rules on changing bowling arms. Some argue that given modern batting techniques such as the pass shot and reverse sweep, bowlers should have more flexibility in changing their bowling arms during the game.
Adam Gilchrist calls for changes to gun swap rules
Currently, bowlers must inform the umpire before changing arms, ensuring the batsman is aware of the change. However, with increasing skill and innovation among bowlers, Adam Gilchrist feels that bowlers deserve flexibility.
Adam Gilchrist said that bowlers should be allowed to change arms without prior notice to the umpire and the mortician and they would automatically be prepared to game plan and the match would be attractive to watch out for.
Adam Gilchrist said on the podcast: “It’s a rule I know. But recently I witnessed some discussions. Well, not recently, maybe in the last couple of years, given that he can switch to a prone stroke or a reverse sweep, which should be comfortable. So they come across as right-handed and then effectively become left-handed.”
“So, as you say, Vaughan, there are more skilled bowlers out there trying it. Maybe it should be released so they can just run and that’s anybody’s guess. And the captain has to hope, or the batsman has to hope. They they know what they’re doing against everything that’s coming, they know their match plans,” added Adam Gilchrist.
They may struggle in the series but Sri Lanka have found a gem 💎 with both bat and ball in 🇱🇰 Kamindu Mendis!
🔥 How good do you think you will be?#ClubPrairieFire pic.twitter.com/11knSPCHtJ
— Club Prairie Fire (@clubprairiefire) September 1, 2024
