Mendis setting new standards for spinners

This time last year, a Sri Lankan spinner delivered a magical performance to win the final of the Asia Cup with 6-13 against an incredibly strong Indian team. But, for the first time in years, it was not mercurial spinning legend Muttiah Muralitharan who had performed minor miracles with a cricket ball for his country. It was a new spinning sensation in the form of Ajantha Mendis.

In just his eighth one day international, Mendis bamboozled the experienced Indians with his countless variations, making a mockery of his tender age. Called up to the Test side shortly after, he took 26 wickets in the three matches, earning a record for the best wicket return in a three match debut series.

But, it was yesterday, perhaps, when the entire world became aware of his pedigree. Playing against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20, in what was a must win game for the Aussies, Mendis bowled Ricky Ponting through the gate in his first over and subsequently removed Shane Watson and Mike Hussey lbw, to shackle the Australian innings to the tune of just 159-9 from their twenty overs.

Murali did get a bowl - his four overs went for just 29 but he was wicket-less. Mendis was accurate, economical and deadly. It was the first time the Australians had faced the young spinner and boy how it showed. Murali used to elicit a unique sense fear and trepidation from opposing batsman. Now, players are so wary of playing Mendis, they're taking singles to get off strike, even if it means facing the aging magician, who, let's be honest, is still quite brilliant.

So, as if we didn't know already, who is this Ajantha Mendis bloke and where is he going? There's a great deal of mystery regarding him, perhaps an indication of just how difficult it is to predict what he is bowling. Even cricket encylopedia Cricinfo isn't sure what to class him as, stating his bowling style as 'right arm off-break, leg-break'.

His action is almost as confusing as his deliveries; rather than the customary slow walk for a spinner, he runs up to the crease, almost as if he is bowling at medium pace. The second the ball comes out of the hand, it's a guessing game for the poor batsmen.

Indeed, it seems he is capable of bowling absolutely everything. He extracts serious spin whichever direction it goes. He bowls off-spinners, leg-spinners, googlies, top-spinners, flippers and even a unique mystery ball known as the 'Carrom ball', which comes off his middle finger, would you believe. He's got more deliveries in his locker than that Shane Warne fella. It all adds up to some serious arthritis when he's older.

And, it appears he is capable of bringing his magic to any format of the game. He gets his one day international wickets at an insane average of just 13.14. He has 34 wickets from just six test matches. He even finds the time to play Twenty20 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. He is set for a staggeringly good future, there can be no doubting that.

The plaudits are raining in. Murali has had his say, stating after Mendis' incredible test debut, "When I started playing Test cricket, I was not as good as Mendis. He is exceptional. He is the future of Sri Lankan cricket."

Veteran cricket writer Tony Becca said of Mendis in the Jamaica Gleaner, "With a smile on his face as he caresses the ball before delivering it, he bowls the off-break, he bowls the leg-break, he bowls the googly, he bowls the flipper, he bowls a straight delivery, he bowls them with different grips and different actions, he bowls them with a different trajectory and at a different pace, and he disguises them brilliantly. The result is that he mesmerises, or bamboozles, batsmen."

Has he already replaced Murali in the Sri Lanka set up? Not quite yet. Mendis has some way to go before he can match or better the world's all time leading wicket taker. Murali has the benefit of years and years of experience allied with his freakish talent. But the signs are there for the changing of the guard. Mendis has been coming on to bowl before Murali of late, not necessarily an indictment of who Sri Lanka think is better, but a sign that they believe Mendis to have what it takes.

Mendis will eventually assume Murali's mantle as Sri Lanka's premier spinner. And with the career statistics he has already accrued combined with his outrageous and unique skill, whose to say he won't become the world's best ever spinner? Have a look for yourself.