Anyone who has been watching Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis is as confused as all the Indian batsmen are as to what tricks he does with the ball. He was the destroyer in the first ODI and the indications are that the younger batsmen are not likely to do better than the senior ones. The latter had a miserable time in the recent Test matches and Mendis in his first series finished with 26 wickets, beating a long-standing record held by Alec Bedser of England for a three-Test series.

At the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, the coaches have been trying to unravel the mystery of the Sri Lankan wizard’s bowling. They have come up with quite a few theories. The head of operations is the former Sri Lankan coach, Dav Whatmore. He says that he had heard of Mendis but had not seen him bowl till the recent Test matches. He also says that he has never seen a bowler of this type before.

According to him, “His accuracy and immaculate length are the keys to his success.” That is all very well. The question being asked is how does one play him?

B. Arun, who played for India as a new ball bowler and is the bowling coach at the NCA, is all admiration for the young Sri Lankan. He remarked, “Now no batsman seems to be bothered about Muthiah Muralitharan. It seems that if Muralitharan gets wickets it is because of the astounding pressure that Mendis brings on the batsmen."

Batting consultant at the NCA, former India captain Gundappa Vishwanath is of the view that the batsmen have to watch the bowler’s wrist.

“That is what I did when I played the Australian freak spinner, John Gleeson. He too used his middle finger to spin the ball,” he said.

Vishwanath, however, agreed that freak spinners get sorted out, and all the more these days because of the video. It has surprised him though, that in the case of Mendis it is taking longer than usual.

Whoever coached this prodigy has to be given credit for not meddling with his style of bowling. And it is said with authority that his coach has not played first class cricket. Call it intuition or just luck, but Mendis must be grateful that he has been fortunate in this regard.

At last it is being agreed that Mendis is no freak but a special bowler who has to be cherished as he is bound to trouble the best batsmen as the Indians have learnt to their dismay. One suspects that his team-mates are grateful that he is on their side.

Do the Indian coaches have an answer to how he can be played?