'Academy Coach' salutes 'Kalpage'

'SLC' Academy Squad product 'Ajantha Mendis' who plays for 'Army' in the 'Premier - Tier (B)' competition has been selected to represent the Sri Lankan 'National Team' to tour the 'West Indies' in the fourth coming (ODI) series.

Jerome Jayaratne - SLC Academy Coach said 'Mendis' graduated from the (2007/8) SLC 'Academy Squad'. In July last year he toured with the 'Academy' team which emerged champions of the 'Maharashtra Challenge Trophy' in India.

Jerome had praise for 'Ruwan Kalpage' (SLC National Spin Bowling Coach) who recently left the country to take a Coaching assignment with 'Bangladesh Cricket Board'. Ruwan was responsible for scouting this youngster who incidentally is the only player from the tier (B) competition in the Squad. 'Mendis' is noted to be an 'Off Spinner' Ruwan picked him on the basis that he was unusual & freaky, both worked tirelessly in the nets over the last (7 to 8) months toiling with fine tuning the variations of deliveries 'Mendis' possessed. Then 'Mendis' stuck gold in the recently conducted 'Provincial Cricket Tournament' where he had some National Players in all sought of trouble during the competition in which he caught the eye of the 'National Selectors'. Since then he has not stopped his work trying to impress the Selectors & currently is the leading wicket taker for 'Army' in the Premier tier (B) competition at an amazing wicket taking average.

Jerome said 'Ruwan' (National Spin Bowling Coach) & 'Piyal Wijetunge' (Assistant Spin Bowling Coach) has to be congratulated for his efforts with regard to 'Mendis's' inclusion to the 'National Team' to tour the West Indies, months ago some were in doubt whether this young lad would come through, however his performances in competition has seen him come through with ranks in flying colors.

He is unusual, freaky & has developed a ball which could be described as a 'Flicker' which he releases with a snap of his fingers which is very unusual compared to other orthodox Spin bowlers.