14 Tuesday 15th April, 2008 Mendis sets tongues wagging on ODI debut PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — his hand on the computer, and it was Dimitri Mascarenhas Tougher days surely lie ahead, but still really difficult to pick him, but I appears to be a spin found that once you are prepared to bowler with a bright future based on watch the ball closely, it is half the Mascarenhas the evidence of his One-day job done.” International debut for in Bravo admitted: “He is a very commits the West Indies, AFP reported on good bowler, and we will have to go Monday. back to drawing board to try to come The 23-year-old from Moratuwa up with a way to score off his bowl- to IPL bowled impressively to collect three ing freely.” for 39 runs from his quota of Sri Lanka coach The one-day leg of England’s tour 10 overs making his debut for Sri felt it was a pretty good debut effort to New Zealand was nearing its end Lanka. It brought to mind Muttiah from Mendis, and he too, believes he and the (IPL) was becoming a topic of dressing- Muralitharan, the Sri Lanka off-spin could have a long career in the room conversation. International legend, when he first game. is a tight community and the stepped onto the international scene “I could tell you about his varia- extravagant fees pledged for players with his freakish bowling action, the tions if I knew what they were, even some way below world class report added. and even a lot of our guys struggle made for lively gossip. Dimitri Mendis trapped Gayle lbw with a to know what he is doing with the Mascarenhas joined in those chats, all that went straight on, bam- ball,” Bayliss quipped. the time holding back a piece of infor- boozled Darren Sammy with a flip- “The poise that he had in the mation that would have stunned his per that totally squared first ODI - not just what colleagues. up the batsman and skid- he was bowling - to be For Mascarenhas, the IPL had ded through to hit the top able to keep a lid on moved from being a theoretical option of off-stump, before hold- things under pressure in in the distant future to something ing his nerve after Jerome ODI cricket is a very more tangible. Within days of the Taylor clubbed him for good sign. mind-boggling first auction, Shane six, tossing the next ball “This has been the Warne, assessing the initial round of up having caught on the exceptional thing from purchases made by the Jaipur fran- chise he was assigned to and long-on boundary. my point of view. To be coach, had phoned his friend to set a Even Ramnaresh able to maintain his com- deal in motion. Sarwan appeared clueless posure and do what he “I felt I could not really speak to at times to what Mendis normally does was bril- any of the England management or was delivering, and at one liant.” players specifically about the stage, after being deceived Bayliss agreed that approach,” Mascarenhas said. “I am by the flight and the turn ODIs was not the best sure the other guys had people asking of a delivery, the West place to experiment, and them if they were interested, as well. Indies vice-captain looked many coaches may have When you see the millions of dollars quizzically at the young Ajantha Mendis dissuaded Mendis from on offer to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and spinner with an expres- doing things his own way, Andrew Symonds, players are not just sion that seemed to suggest “what but the Sri Lanka coach was pre- going to go, ‘So what?’ It was a huge freak of nature have Sri Lanka pared to let the young slow bowler talking point.” unearthed now”. let it all hang out. By the time that Mascarenhas West Indies all-rounder Dwayne “We just told him to go out there arrived in Perth for a holiday, Warne had spoken to the men behind Bravo, who won Man-of-the-Match, and do whatever he has done in the Rajasthan Royals to confirm that they had to agree that it was difficult to past,” he said. “But it’s how young would take Mascarenhas in the sec- pick Mendis. players handle the pressure of ond auction. Thus began a train of “To be honest, when we saw his international cricket that’s critical, calls and e-mails between the player stats - after 19 first-class matches, he and he handled it very well. and his agent, Dave Ligertwood, and had 111 wickets at an average of “From my point of view, the Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chair- 14.54 - we knew he had to be bowling higher up the ladder you go in this man. Bargaining soon moved beyond something good,” Bravo said. game, it’s more of a mental thing. Ajantha Mendis bowls during the second One-Day International between Sri the coming summer to future seasons. “Sarwan had problems picking It’s how you cope with pressure, Lanka and the West Indies in Trinidad. “I wanted to play for the full six him, and from the time we saw this, and if something is working for inevitable, but for right now, he “Who knows, one day on one of weeks,” Mascarenhas said. “But that most of the batters retreated to the him at one level, it’s no reason why rejoices that he also has young those typical pitches in south Asia, was never going to happen and, even- dressing room, and had a close look it cannot work at the next.” slow bowlers of the quality of we will pick all three,” he said. tually, we reached a compromise. Rod at his hand on the TV monitor. Bayliss believes the comparisons Mendis and leg-spinner Malinga For the purists, this would be a held all the cards. He knew that I “I actually went and had a look at with Muralitharan will be Bandara at his disposal. delicious prospect. could not go without Hampshire’s per- mission.” In contrast, Bransgrove thought that Mascarenhas was in the stronger position because his contract was due to expire at the end of the season. Caddick:Harmison “There was no threat to leave,” Roddick leads USA to semi-finals Mascarenhas, who has succeeded Andy Roddick guided beat Thomas Johansson Warne as Hampshire captain, said. “I champions United States in Friday’s opening rub- would never say that and, if Rod had must learn trade to the Davis Cup semi- ber and partnered said no, I would have stayed anyway ... Andy Caddick finals by winning Guillermo Canas in I think we are both fairly happy with claims Steve Sunday’s reverse singles Saturday’s doubles win. the outcome.” Harmison is among against France’s Paul- Against Soderling, Mascarenhas is to spend May 12 to a clutch of England Henri Mathieu. Nalbandian broke serve 26 in Jaipur this year, but will play fast bowlers who Roddick served strong- in the opening game and throughout the 2009 and 2010 tourna- need a long spell in ly to win 6-2 6-3 6-2 - his then held to go 2-0 up and ments. county cricket to second singles win in the his better shot placement After the excitement surrounding “learn their trade” tie - and give the US an allowed him to take the the first auction, the second was rela- before returning to unbeatable 3-1 lead in the set. tively low-key. “A lot of the franchises the international tie in North Carolina. Soderling then got two had almost spent up,” Mascarenhas scene. The holders will now successive breaks in the said. “I worked out that the most I The 39-year-old face Spain, who had second set and converted could get if somebody else wanted me Somerset seamer already secured victory his fourth set point before and the bidding went up was $240,000 feels selectors have over Germany on also breaking twice in the [about £115,000]. I felt quite nervous. introduced too Saturday. third set as the wind On the day, I was just south of Perth many players The other semi-final Andy Roddick picked up. and I kept ringing my brother to find before they are will pit Russia against Russia advanced after leading Davydenko in the Nalbandian was bro- out if there was any news until some- ready for the Argentina. Tomas Berdych of the opening reverse singles ken in the first game of thing came up on the internet.” rigours of compet- Roddick was in superb Czech Republic withdrew match in the first round the fourth set but recov- Mascarenhas went for a modest ing at the top level. form against Mathieu, injured from his match in February. ered to break back in the $100,000, but, with payment on a pro Caddick, who breaking his opponent with Nikolay Davydenko. In the final singles of fourth and eighth games rata basis, he stands to make less than took 234 wickets in five times. Berdych fell and hurt the quarter-final in to send the match to a £20,000 this season. “Not a killing at 62 Test matches for The Frenchman dou- his ankle when he lunged Moscow, Lukas Dlouhy fifth set. all,” he said. “Really, it is the experi- England, has urged ble-faulted to give for a forehand in the fifth beat Marat Safin 6-3 6-3 to Although Soderling got ence of being there that grabs me. If I the England and Roddick the first set and set, giving Davydenko a 6- make the final score 3-2. the early advantage in the do well, there is the opportunity to Wales Cricket was then broken again in 3 2-6 6-7 6-3 1-2 win and In Buenos Aires, David decider, breaking in the earn more next year ... Being in New Board to match the the second games of the Russia a winning 3-1 lead. Nalbandian recovered third game, Nalbandian Zealand around the first auction was Australian policy of second and third sets. Russia’s win was the from two sets to one down immediately broke back funny because we heard that their fully developing Roddick sealed the win second time in a row they to beat Robin Soderling 6- and then Soderling had to players were listening as things hap- bowlers before they with an ace down the had advanced after an 4 1-6 4-6 6-4 9-7 in a match save three match points pened. Brendon McCullum went for enter the interna- middle before doing a lap opponent retired with an lasting four hours and to hold service to 5-5. $700,000, Jacob Oram for $675,000, Dan tional arena. of honour around the injury in a decisive nine minutes. But Nalbandian kept Steve Harmison Vettori for $625,000 and then Scott “I don’t think court with his team- match. The 26-year-old, who cool, breaking again in Styris for only $175,000.” Steve Harmison wouldn’t pick him against mates and the American Serbia’s Novak has never lost a Davis the 16th game to seal the The Royals may have picked up a has ever learned his trade New Zealand. I’d say,‘Go flag. Djokovic pulled out while Cup rubber at home, also win. bargain. Mascarenhas completed a at domestic level. I know away and learn your trade maiden one-day fifty against India Chris Broad hasn’t, and I again’.” from 36 balls in Bristol, then hit suc- don’t think Chris Adams will take cessive sixes from the last five balls of really has either,” Caddick his Sussex side to the Rose the innings at the Brit Oval and hoist- said. Bowl on Wednesday opti- Coates says Olympic torch relays in ed Jeetan Patel for four in a row in “I’d like to see a lot mistic about their Auckland in February. International more players out there prospects of becoming the cricket came relatively late, at the age playing at a domestic level, first county since future may be restricted of 29, but, like Ryan Sidebottom, he especially at this time of Yorkshire in the late arrived in command of his own game. year. You shouldn’t have SYDNEY, Australia and ask them if they want prevent similar protests to do so at this stage.” Sixties to complete a hat- “I think I was ready two or three players like Steve (AP) - Australian to do it. I think it will be in Australia and send a Coates also said he trick of championships. years ago,” he said. “I was as good Harmison after a losing Olympic Committee presi- reviewed. Probably my clear message to the did not see the need for Despite the last-day then as I am now. My bowling has Ashes series saying, ‘I dent John Coates sup- view is that on balance Chinese government that Australian security per- washout of the season- been consistent pretty much through don’t know what I’m doing, ports calls for future the risks are too great at human rights abuses in sonnel to accompany the opening fixture against the my career, but my really took I’m going to wait for Mr Olympic torch relays to be trying to do something Tibet would not be toler- team to Beijing despite MCC yesterday,the Sussex shape around 2005. Warney told me I Fletcher to tell me what revamped following vio- worldwide.” ated. Chinese authorities captain will have been had to give myself a chance, not just I’m doing’. lent anti-China protests. Coates criticized But Coates was claiming last week they heartened by a scene-steal- go out and hit every ball. I know exact- “What he should have “I think that there Australian lawmaker adamant the torch would had foiled a terrorist plot ing display by all-rounder ly what I am doing now and that is done is turned round and Luke Wright always is the potential for Peter Slipper, who called make its way through to attack the games. said, ‘I had a shocker, I something that is interna- on the federal govern- Canberra. “We feel that we can half the battle in one-day cricket.” He made a career-best Under the regime, need to get back, get some 155 and impressed tional to be ambushed and ment to cancel the “He may think that rely on the Australian overs under my belt, play that’s what’s happened Australian leg of the but it’s continuing,” government and the secu- Mascarenhas had been told by David with his bowling as he Graveney that his bowling was too for Durham and put my attempts to push for fur- here,” Coates said relay in Canberra on Coates said. “I think he’s rity advice that’s embed- slow to be effective. “As soon as Peter name in the hat and say ther international recogni- Monday at the launch of April 24 following disrup- losing sight of the overall ded in there,” Coates said. Moores came in, I thought, ‘This is my I’m back and this is what tion after promising efforts the Australian team’s uni- tions by pro-Tibetan pro- purpose and I think it “I’m not sure that having I’ d t d t t f f B iji tt iPiL d ld b ti chance ’” he said “Probably a lot of