Louis Rohan Duleep Mendis, born August 25, 1952, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer famous for his aesthetic strokeplay. On his 63rd birthday,Suvajit Mustafi looks at nine points about the elegant Sri Lankan batsman who led Sri Lanka to their first Test series victory.
1. Â Early days
Born in Moratuwa suburb in Colombo, Mendis did his early schooling at St Sebastian’s College in the city before moving to St Thomas College in Mount Lavina. He captained the Under-20 first XIs of both sides.Â
2. Â Making a mark in his maiden First-Class game
Mendis made his maiden First-Class appearance for Ceylon Board President’s XI against the touring Tamil Nadu side. Coming in at No 3, he struck an attractive 52. In the second innings he scored 34, but couldn’t prevent an innings defeat.
 3.  India hunting
India played Sri Lanka in a Test in Colombo in 1982. It was Sri Lanka’s first year in Test cricket and Mendis stroked a breezy 105 in the first innings from just 123 balls. In the second innings, he once again bailed out the side from trouble with another 105. In contrast to his first century in first innings, he batted close to four hours this time. The match ended in a draw.
 4.  A classy Lord’s outing
In 1984, Mendis struck 111 against a strong England bowling attack at the home of cricket, Lord’s. His knock came from only 143-balls and that wasn’t all of it. He could have made it to the honours board again but missed out on a hundred by six runs in the second innings. His 94 came from just 97 balls, before Ian Botham dismissed him.
5.  Another Lord’s beauty and Test ‘goodbye’
In his last Test innings, at Lord’s, he showed his fondness for the iconic venue when he struck a fine 56, though it came in a losing cause.
6. Â 1975 World Cup and Jeff Thomson
In the 1975 World Cup, Mendis was hospitalised after being struck on the head by a Jeff Thomson bouncer. Even Sunil Wettimuny joined him in the hospital.Â
7. Â Getting back at Australia
Twenty-one years later, Mendis had the last laugh when as a manager, he guided Sri Lanka to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1996.Â
8.  Sri Lanka’s first captain to win a Test series
Mendis was Sri Lanka’s second Test captain and against India in 1985, he led the side to their first ever Test series win. Sri Lanka won the second Test at Colombo and the captain scored a 51 and unbeaten 13.
9. Â Selector and coachÂ
Mendis donned may hats as an administrator. In 2011, he was appointed the chief selector and is now currently the coach of the Oman national side.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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