15 Facts About Duleep Mendis

Duleep Mendis was primarily a specialist batsman, whose best performances came from 1982 to 1985.

Duleep Mendis is currently the coach of the Oman national cricket team.

Duleep Mendis was awarded the Deshamanya in 1996.

Duleep Mendis spent his college life at St Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and S Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.

Duleep Mendis captained the Under 20 1st XI sides of both colleges.

Duleep Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka in 1972, batting at number three against the visiting Tamil Nadu side.

Duleep Mendis top-scored in the first innings with 52, and made 34 in the second innings, but could not prevent an innings defeat.

Duleep Mendis was hit in the head by Jeff Thomson in a match versus Australia, and when able to speak again, told the Australians "I am going now", retiring hurt on 32.

Sri Lanka had lost two early wickets for 11 runs, and Duleep Mendis was sent in to bat with Roy Dias.

However, despite a respectable batting average of 25.33, Duleep Mendis' fortunes were the reverse of the Sri Lankan side.

Sri Lanka lost the games in which he made reasonable scores, while Duleep Mendis made a duck in Sri Lanka's only win.

Duleep Mendis recorded a string of poor scores on New Zealand's tour of the island in 1984, only passing 20 once in six Test innings.

Duleep Mendis made his third Test century as Sri Lanka smashed 491 for 7 batting first amid the rain, and the first Test century by a Sri Lankan captain while in office.

Duleep Mendis made two Test fifties in his last ten Tests, and two ODI fifties in his last 32 ODIs following the India tour.

Duleep Mendis remained within the Sri Lankan cricketing sphere as he was manager of the successful 1996 Cricket World Cup side.