Kamindu Mendis: In just eight Tests, the Sri Lankan has set a flurry of records

Sept. 28, 2024, 12:38 p.m.

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Kamindu Mendis, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, has taken the world of cricket by storm, breaking one record after another in his brief Test career. In only eight Tests, Mendis has matched the legendary Don Bradman in multiple achievements. One of these feats saw him become the second-fastest to reach 1000 Test runs, accomplishing this in just 13 innings, mirroring Bradman's record. In fact, only two players have achieved the 1000-run milestone in Tests faster than Kamindu or Bradman.

Advertisement These two players are Everton Weekes and Herbert Sutcliffe, who achieved the feat in a mere 12 Test innings.

Kamindu breaks Asian record

Kamindu, 25, achieved this milestone on Day 2 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle. He scored an unbeaten 182 in the first innings as Sri Lanka amassed over 600 runs. His latest century saw him set a new record, once again equaling Bradman. Kamindu is the fastest Asian batsman to achieve five Test centuries, accomplishing this in just 13 innings, surpassing the record held by Pakistan's Fawad Alam who took 22 innings to reach the same landmark.

Only three batsmen have achieved five centuries in fewer than 13 innings - Weekes (ten), Sutcliffe (12) and Neil Harvey (12). Bradman, alongside Kanindu, is jointly the second-fastest to five centuries.

There’s more. Kamindu so far has eight fifty-plus scores in eight Test matches. The previous record for the longest streak of fifty-plus scores from debut was seven which was held by Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel.

Another stat where Kamindu is closely following Bradman is the batting average. He currently boasts an average of 91.27 in Test cricket which is behind only Bradman’s 99.94 (minimum 1000 Test runs).

Kamindu prospers in lower order

All five of Kamindu's centuries in 2024 have been scored batting at position five or lower. This achievement ties him with Michael Clarke for this record. Notably, only one other batsman has achieved five or more Test centuries while batting at number five or lower in a single year - Jonny Bairstow (6) in 2022. Clarke achieved this milestone in 2012.

Advertisement So far in his eight Tests, Kamindu has been involved in six century partnerships for the sixth (or lower) wicket in 2024. There’s only one batter who has had more than six century partnerships for the sixth (or lower) wicket in a same year – Bairstow (7) in 2016.