Ajantha Mendis retires from all forms of cricket

Ajantha Mendis, cricket's original mystery spinner, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday.

Ajantha Mendis holds the record of being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets and taking two six-wicket hauls in T20Is.

Cricket's original mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday. He last played for Sri Lanka in 2015, in a one-dayer against New Zealand.

The pioneer of the carrom ball, the 34-year-old finished his international career with 70 wickets in 19 Tests, 152 in 87 ODIs, and 66 from 39 T20Is.

Mendis made his debut in April 2008, in an ODI against the West Indies where he took 3 for 39. It is the Asia Cup that gave him the spotlight where he blew away India in the final with his 6 for 13.

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Ajantha Mendis has retired from all forms of cricket!

The Sri Lankan spinner took 288 wickets for his country across the three formats. pic.twitter.com/ZwABGqvRWf

— ICC (@ICC) August 28, 2019

 

The same year in July, Mendis was handed a Test debut against India at home. He took 26 wickets in three games and a eight-wicket haul on debut as Sri Lanka sealed a 2-1 series win over India. 

In T20Is too he was successful and holds the best figures record of 6 for 8 against Zimbabwe in the 2012 World Twenty20. The 2009 and 2012 editions of the World Twenty20 saw him scalp 12 and 15 wickets respectively.

Mendis also holds the record of being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets and taking two six-wicket hauls in T20Is.