Kamindu Mendis approaches Don Bradman’s Test average record

Kamindu Mendis has made a significant impact in his Test career, scoring four centuries in just seven matches. After a successful stint against England, he was promoted to bat at number five and continued his impressive form, scoring 114 runs against New Zealand on September 18. This performance brought his total runs to 809 in 11 innings, giving him an extraordinary average of 80.90, second only to Don Bradman among players with a minimum of 10 innings. Despite his remarkable average, Wisden does not officially recognize players until they have played at least 20 innings. Mendis's achievements include scoring over 50 runs in each of his first seven Tests, a record he shares with Pakistan's Saud Shakeel. If he maintains his form, he could challenge the record for the most consecutive matches with scores over 50, currently held by AB de Villiers and Joe Root. Mendis's journey began with his debut against Australia in 2022, where he scored 61 runs. However, he faced a 20-month absence from the national team before his recent recall. Since then, he has amassed over 800 runs in just 10 innings this year, showcasing his potential as a key player for Sri Lanka. Looking ahead, Mendis is on the verge of breaking the record for the fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs, which currently stands at 12 matches. To achieve this in 11 Tests, he needs to score at least 191 runs in his second innings against New Zealand, further solidifying his place in cricket history.