Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis Matches Don Bradman's Record, With 1000 Test Runs in 12 Innings

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Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis has etched his name alongside cricketing great Don Bradman by becoming the joint third-fastest batsman to score 1,000 runs in Test cricket.

Achieving this feat in just his 13th innings, Mendis has displayed a level of consistency and skill that places him in the league of legends, equalling a record that stood since 1949.

Behind only Herbert Sutcliffe and Sir Everton Weekes, who reached the milestone in 12 innings, Mendis's accomplishment underscores his extraordinary talent.

At 25 years old, Mendis showcased his prowess in the recent Test against New Zealand in Galle, where his unbeaten 182 led Sri Lanka to a commanding 602 for 5 declared on the second day. This century, his fifth in Tests, comes as part of a remarkable run of form, including eight consecutive fifty-plus scores from his debut.

Kamindu Mendis' Test Exploits

His scores in the last eight matches are a testament to his dominance: 61 against Australia in 2022, 102 and 164 against Bangladesh, 92* and 113 against England, 74 and 64 again versus England, followed by 114 and 182* against New Zealand in 2024.

Mendis has been Sri Lanka's standout performer in their recent outings, being the top scorer in their series against Bangladesh and England before continuing his stellar performance into 2024.

His latest century not only highlights his consistency but also marks him as the only player to hit a century in the first Test of the series against New Zealand. This series of performances firmly establishes Mendis as a key player for Sri Lanka, showcasing his ability to shape the course of a match with his batting.

In the same Test where Mendis shone, Angelo Mathews also made a significant contribution with a solid 88 before falling to Glen Phillips, who was among the few New Zealand bowlers to find success, claiming three wickets including Dinesh Chandimal's on the first day.

Despite Phillips's efforts, New Zealand's bowling attack, including rookie Will O'Rourke who conceded 81 runs without taking a wicket, struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Sri Lanka's commanding position in the second Test against New Zealand comes on the back of their victory in the opening match of the series by 63 runs. With Mendis's historic achievement and the team's overall performance, Sri Lanka eyes its first Test series win against New Zealand since 2009.