Ajantha Mendis, the mystery spinner from Sri Lanka who used to deceive batsmen from all over the globe with his “carrom ball” in his early years has decided to hang up his boots. Mendis has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 34-year-old made his debut in international cricket in 2008 and last played for Sri Lanka in 2015.
Mendis made a superb entry in the international arena as he picked up 6-13 against India in 2008 in an Asia Cup final. The right-arm 'mystery' off-spinner then went on to trouble India again in three-Test series at home by picking 28 wickets as Sri Lanka won the series 2-1.
The Sri Lankan then went on to became the fastest bowler to reach 50 ODI wickets and is also the only bowler to take two six-wicket hauls in T20I cricket.
His teammate and former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Matthews took it to Twitter and congratulated Mendis for his great career as he wrote, “Congratulations menda on a short but great career. Unfortunately injuries kept u away but god is kind and will open plenty of avenues to you. Stay blessed brotha.”
Congratulations menda on a short but great career.Unfortunately injuries kept u away but god is kind and will open plenty of avenues to you. Stay blessed brotha pic.twitter.com/ikbrmRjPg9
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) August 28, 2019
Mendis has 70 wickets to his name in 19 Tests to go with 152 scalps in just 87 ODIs. In T20Is, the off-spinner born in Moratuwa has 66 wickets in 39 matches with a brilliant economy of 6.45. He retires as the only bowler to pick up a six-wicket haul in each format at the international level.
