Ajantha Mendis announces retirement from all forms of cricket
Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who till date holds the record for the fastest to 50 ODI wickets, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday. The 34-year-old's last appearance in Sri Lankan colours came against New Zealand in an ODI at Christchurch in 2015.
Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. A mystery spinner who revolutionized cricket, Mendis burst into the scene in 2008 where he bamboozled the Indian side, leaving them clueless with his variations. He then went on to claim 50 ODI wickets in just 19 matches, a record which still stands unbroken.
The 34-year-old also holds the record for the best figures in T20I matches, thanks to his spell of 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012. He was also a part of the Sri Lankan squad which won the T20 World Cup in 2014. The mystery spinner also enjoyed stints with Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors India in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Thought not having any notable achievements, Mendis ended with good numbers to his name in Test cricket, claiming 70 wickets from 19 Tests. He is famously known for inventing the "carrom ball", which has since then become a trend in limited-overs cricket, extensively used by the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Sunil Narine.