From patience to prominence: The story of Kamindu Mendis’ dream start to Test career
With three centuries in four Test matches, the red-ball career of Kamindu Mendis has started with a bang.
At the end of the first match against England in Manchester, Kamindu Mendis’ Test average stood at a whopping 92.16, second only to Sir Don Bradman for any player who has scored more than 500 runs.
Mendis had shown signs of brilliance on debut in 2022, stepping in for the Covid-positive Dhananjaya de Silva against Australia in Galle. He scored 61 in his first outing, helping Sri Lanka win by an innings and 39 runs.
The Ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis
Despite his promising performance, Mendis had to wait another two years to return to Test cricket for Sri Lanka. Throughout this period, he remained dedicated and persistent, readying himself for his next opportunity.
"I knew that the batting was packed, but what I tried to do was to do as best as I could in the chance that I had," Kamindu said on Tuesday. "I had to exit the team after that, but I don't see that as a mistake.
“You have to take various decisions to balance a team, and I came into that side only because Dhananjaya had Covid. When he returned, I had to make way. That's fair.
"Even though I didn't get to play, I was in the squad and travelling with the team, pretty much every tour. Going on so many tours with experienced players on those tours also helped me play well in my first few innings."
When he was given another chance earlier this year against Bangladesh, Mendis seized it, scoring centuries in each Test. Accumulating 367 runs, claiming three wickets, and earning the Player of the Series award, his returns were nothing short of stellar.
Against England, Mendis continued to impress, despite batting outside the subcontinent for the first time. Chris Woakes dismissed him for just 12 in the first innings, but Mendis was determined in the second, notching up 113 runs.
As a result of his performances, Mendis has surged eight spots to a career-high No. 36 in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batters' Rankings.
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His pivotal partnerships with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were instrumental in Sri Lanka gaining a lead and putting England in to chase in the fourth innings.
While Sri Lanka ultimately fell short, Mendis showcased his prowess even in challenging conditions. His approach, however, remains straightforward.
"I do basic things, and try to keep calm in the middle," he said. "What I wanted was to do what I could on the day for the team. That's really my only goal: to give as much to my team as possible, whether on the batting front, bowling front, or via fielding."
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As Sri Lanka gear up for the second Test starting on 29 August, Mendis is on the cusp of fulfilling a childhood dream – playing at Lord's.
"From when I was little, I had a dream to play a Test at Lord's," he said. "It's not just my dream, I think every player has that target. I've been able to get there. If we can win this match, it'll be even more valuable to us."