Dhoni wary of Mendis threat for Sri Lanka tour

Karachi, Jul 7 (UNI) Congratulating Ajantha Mendis for his match winning performance in the Asia Cup final, Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the unorthodox Sri Lankan spinner will provide the sternest of tests for his side during their upcoming tour of the island.

''He (Mendis) just outdid us. None of our batsmen read him properly,'' Dhoni said at the post match press conference here yesterday.

''He is a difficult bowler and we will have to prepare ourselves for him in the coming series,'' he added.

Playing in just his eighth international, Mendis used a dizzying array of deliveries to rip through the Indian batting order with figures of 6-13 as Sri Lanka eased to a 100-run victory in the Asia Cup final.

Playing against Mendis for the first time in the final, Dhoni said his batsmen failed to read the bowler because of his unique variations and grip.

''We play Kumble more often it is the fast delivery that tends to come in that is lethal. But if you are playing Mendis most of the time when he flights the ball it is a googly or off-spinner,'' he explained. ''But when he bowls a flatter one it is generally a leg-spinner and when you play inside the line for turn you will be in trouble.'' Dhoni felt that playing Test matches first will work to the advantage of the Indians with the batsmen getting ample time to figure Mendis out before the one-day series begins.

''The good thing is that we will be playing the Test matches first and we have experienced batsmen in the Test side,'' Dhoni stated. ''The burden of scoring off him quickly will not be there and we will get time to get used to him.'' India announce their test squad on Wednesday and are expected to be boosted by the return of the experienced batting trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.

UNI XC AB VC1325