14 Wednesday 9th July, 2008

NEW DELHI: length which bamboozled 's best? ets had Jayawardene not removed There is little And here you thought subtlety had him," says former Indian and Playing across magic remaining disappeared from the game. acclaimed spinner , in this world, so Fact is, what Mendis advertised on "What Mendis bowls looks complicat- the advent of the big stage on Sunday isn't some- ed, but it is not. And that is subtlety of the line to thing new. The genesis of the 'carrom- a high order. He's a bit like the early comes as a breath of ball' spinner, or flicker, if you will, '90s except he has much Mendis proved fresh air. With a seem- can be traced back to Aussie Jack better control. But it's wrong to say ingly casual flick of his Iverson in the 1950s, who developed Mendis is totally unorthodox. His immensely powerful the method of gripping the ball grip is freaky, yes, but his run-up (a to be fatal middle finger, the 23-year- between his thumb and middle finger, busy, shuffling gait), stride by Anil Kumble old Sri Lankan spinner powerfully flicking the latter either and follow-through are technically seemed to hypnotize some very way at the point of delivery. very sound. Also, his biggest strength It was disappointing to see India capable players of spin in the Asia John Gleeson perfected the art, now, the straighter one which is clos- go down in the final after playing so Cup final against India. and much like Mendis, they were all er to a flipper than a top-spinner, is well throughout. But if I have to draw Faced with an unorthodox self-taught, mesmerizing bowlers. As possible only because he bowls with some consolation, it is the perform- the shoulder, and has a perfect long- ance of Ajantha Mendis, a fellow arm release. It's incredibly impressive spinner, and all credit to him for the and correct. He doesn't resort to the way he . On flat pitches, laxity in the ICC's elbow flexion rules bowlers have had a tough time and for effect. He's a delight, the first per- for someone to run through a Bedi excited son after I would line-up was a big achievement. pay to watch." India’s top order made runs in the That's high praise, indeed. Mendis tournament and going by the way has now risen from the ranks of a they played Mendis, it’s obviously not Tier B domestic team, the Army SC, easy to pick him. When you’re strug- with Mendis’ to the top of the charts in the gling to pick a bowler out of his Asia Cup. And single-handedly turned hand, the usual thing is to play him "Of course they'll figure around a crucial final. But he's not off the . What was surprising the finished product yet, and a Test was that many Indian batsmen did him out the more he plays," debut beckons. What next? not pick his length early enough. The talent says former spinner "Of course they'll figure him out safest option, when you’re not quite Maninder Singh, "But his the more he plays," says former spin- sure which way the ball will turn, is rise is testimony to Lanka's ner Maninder Singh, "But his rise is to play straight and some of our bats- practitioner who testimony to Lanka's unique coach- men made the mistake of playing seems to have unique coaching system. ing system. They don't mess around across the line and paid the price. uncanny control They don't mess around with natural talent, unlike our coach- Mendis uses a grip that you see his craft given with natural talent, unlike es who seem obsessed with correct- quite often in tennis ball cricket, but his age, Dhoni and Co. reacted ness. Mendis is a freak, that's why he to master this with a cricket ball like bunnies out of Mandrake's our coaches who seem is so good. It's great for the game to takes some doing and he’s obviously hat: dazed and confused, but somehow obsessed with correctness. finally have a spinner who seems to managed that. He bowled wicket-to- all part of the act. Such was Mendis' Mendis is a freak, that's have the talent to hog the limelight in wicket and employed subtle varia- overwhelming presence on a vulture's the Kumble-Warne-Murali mould." tions. It’s not that he spun the ball head of pitch at the National Stadium why he is so good. It's Gleeson, though, after a very suc- appreciably but he showed that when in Karachi that even an intently great for the game to finally cessful series against the you are accurate, all it takes is small admiring was have a spinner who seems in 1968-69, was worked out by bats- movement to beat the stroke. made to look pedestrian in compari- men, and Mendis might have his task With India going to son. to have the talent to hog cut out. Bedi, however, feels the next for a full series, we need to So even as cricket romantics the limelight in the Kumble- bowler has the goods to survive over- watch Mendis. But is a rejoice, batsmen and their latest Warne-Murali mould." exposure: "He is intelligent enough to different ball game as batsmen have 'caddies', the computer analysts, raise his game, add newer varieties, more time to assess a bowler and have a problem on their hands: and his youthful enthusiasm is an come up with a method to tackle him. Just what is Ajantha Mendis? Is Dhoni pointed out, it's simplistic to asset. You can watch computers all In limited-overs cricket, you’re it possible to read him from the say the Indians played some bad shots you want, but he doesn't know always looking to score and this can hand? He is a finger-spinner, in the final: it was Mendis' guile English, so how will you get him to induce the mistake. but how does that explain the which induced it. His three best dis- talk about his bowling? Also, he does- Taking 6 for 13 in a final is a great variations? The one that fizzes missals came against the left-handers n't seem like a bowler who is interest- spell, but the match was not about on straight but cannot be called Yuvraj, Raina and Pathan, who had ed in dot balls. He needs . All Mendis alone. When India picked up a top-spinner; the off-break; leg- no clue. The arrogant Sehwag and this talk of his real test coming now and Mahela break, googly; even something , who played for the leg- is a bit over the top. I think he's up to Jayawardene cheaply they had made resembling a ? Without break and found the ball cutting in, the task." the ideal start but any change in action? His and RP Singh were duped. And eight The length of the wand, after all, showed just how big a part he can Ajantha Mendis bowls during the Asia Cup final breaks don't turn much, but overs and 13 runs later, it was all over. doesn't really matter. The magic is in play. India bowled well but Jayasuriya in Karachi. (AP) what about the in-between "He would have taken eight wick- the wand itself. ensured that even the early break- throughs did not hamper their progress. He’s the kind of batsman who can hit boundaries even in the middle overs, when the bowlers are British GP: Hamilton trying to keep things a bit quiet, and US system rules this made a difference. I thought bowled really well up front and we have been effect to be curbed talking about how important it is to by Kevin Garside do damage with the new ball. But out Tyson Gay is shaped by the media. India faltered in that they did not My neighbour is just the sort of back up this start in the middle overs. of the men's Today is a good day in the life of casual observer that Hamilton reaches They needed to keep getting wickets track and field Lewis Hamilton. He is back in the car at out to, one who does not invest emotion- and ensure the pressure was on Sri teams, said: "I Hockenheim to test ahead of next ally in grand prix racing but who pays Lanka. Instead, partnerships devel- believe in the week's German Grand Prix. On Sunday, attention because of the 'Hamilton oped and , system. At the in the British Grand Prix, he gave effect'. McLaren recognised the need for although playing second fiddle, made end of the day, another demonstration of his extraordi- change during the political meltdown an important contribution. there will not be nary flair in a racing car, much like he last year, which led to the departure of Sri Lanka might have only a person in this did in Monaco in May and in Fernando Alonso. reached 273, but in a final that’s like gathering that is March. The communications department scoring 300. There’s always pressure going to say they Other days have not gone so well. If was restructured and new appointments on the team batting second, once the politicked their the pattern of the season is to be repeat- were made. Fine as far as it went, but runs are on the board, and that way on to the ed, we are perhaps only a race away that did not protect Hamilton from the makes totals look that extra bit big- team. from a return to an enforced diet of rot- downturn in post-Monaco headlines. ger. All credit to Sri Lanka but I feel "It's unfortu- ten fruit. A mistake on the circuit, or an Hamilton's father, Anthony, has done all for the Indian team. When you’ve nate that there indiscretion off it. has been sufficient to he can to steer his son to this point. But done all the hard work, you want to may be some sit- place Hamilton back in the media as Hamilton Inc becomes bigger than sign off on a high note, but this time uations that stocks. the team, he needs support to keep the around it just wasn’t to be. come up but the That is the territory he is in. Feats of Hamilton express on the rails. head-to-head the superhero variety attract cartoon Anthony Hamilton cannot help (Hindustan Times ) competition is coverage. The wins are invariably other- being a father. Neither should he. He is what is best for worldly, the failures seismic; from the the right man to guide his son's career. right now." sublime to the ridiculous, he rockets at But at times of high stress, a father's The preternatural pace. It is fair to call this role is one thing, the Mosley American target phenomenon the 'Hamilton effect'. manager's quite is to beat China The question for Hamilton and his often another. to the top of the team, as they move forward into the sec- You can't always sues tabloid medals table in ond half of the season with the most be both and do Beijing and a slender of championship advantages to the racer justice. Says "Nazi orgy" stories Tyson Gay is helped to a wheel chair after falling healthy haul protect, is how to manage the 'Hamilton © The during the first quarterfinal heat of the men's 200 from the Bird's effect'. A failure to make the right choic- Telegraph Group, breached his privacy meter race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Nest Stadium es now could be damaging in November 2008 Trials in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, July 5, 2008.(AP) will be crucial. when the prizes are handed out. LONDON (AP) – Motor racing chief Thornton After Monaco, where he was again Max Mosley has gone to court to deny by Tom Knight was offering no predictions. He said: imperious in the wet, and a brilliant a newspaper's claim that he took part American coaches have defended "It's one of those pressures you don't pole in Canada, few would have predict- in a Nazi-themed orgy with prosti- the country's strict Olympic selection need. There's no doubt this will be a ed the vortex into which he would tum- tutes, saying there are "few things system despite losing Tyson Gay from very strong team. They believe in the ble. The mistakes were neither here nor more unerotic" than Nazi role-playing. the 200 metres and Alan Webb from magic they've been able to capture there. It would have been better not to Mosley, who acknowledges having a the 1500m in the team for Beijing. here and they're going to take it to have run into the rear of Kimi sadomasochistic encounter with sex Gay will still contest the 100m and Beijing." Raikkonen in Montreal, and to have workers, is suing the tabloid News of the relay but injured a hamstring In comparison to the American kept within the rules while overtaking the World for invasion of privacy. His during the heats for the 200m while version, Britain's Olympic trials will Sebastien Vettel in France. lawyer said Monday the tabloid had Webb, the pre-event favourite, could be a much tamer affair when they Poop happens. But Hamilton's breached the privacy of the president finish only fifth in Sunday's 1500m. start in Birmingham's Alexander responses and the management of of racing's governing body "for the Both missed selection from the US Stadium on Friday.The three-day them invited trouble. How could it be amusement of its readers." Trials in Eugene because of USA event suffered its first major with- that a young man as gifted and as Attorney James Price told the Track and Field's insistence on tak- drawal yesterday when out-of-form humble as he could lead my next court "Every ordinary human being ing only the first three past the post Tim Benjamin pulled out of the 400m. door neighbour to the view after the expects the privacy of their sexual life as long as athletes have achieved the French Grand Prix that he was to be respected and would be outraged Plenty of fizz: Lewis Hamilton showed qualifying standard. (C) The Telegraph Group, becoming arrogant? The answer is, of if it was not." Bubba Thornton, the head coach London 2008 course, that his opinion of Hamilton extraordinary flair to win at Silverstone