Kevin Koththigoda, Sri Lanka's latest 'mystery spinner'

[MenInG]

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/kevin-koththigoda-sri-lankas-latest-mystery-spinner-1775130

amazed both players on the field and fans off it. Sri Lanka's 18-year-old spinner, Kevin Koththigoda, is the latest entrant to this list of bowlers trying to bamboozle batsmen with an unorthodox action.

The Sri Lankan teenager first grabbed eyeballs during the ongoing U-19 Asia Cup in Malaysia. Koththigoda, who hails from Unawatuna and is a right-arm leg-spinner, was one of the members of the Sri Lankan team that beat Afghanistan by 61 runs. The unorthodox spinner took one wicket in the match.

The leg-spinner has a bowling action similar to that of the former South African chinaman bowler Adams.

"He has a very unusual action. It's like that of Paul Adams. The action wasn't coached or anything, it came naturally to him. Initially, he was struggling with the length as he couldn't see the pitch, but he has improved tremendously," former Sri Lanka 'A' opener Dhammika Sudarshana told Cricbuzz while speaking about Kevin.

"He came with his parents and asked me whether he could change schools. It was a fair request and we didn't have any objections," Sudarshana explained.

"Since his action is unique, the batsmen get confused. He is an excellent fielder and a decent batsman. He has got a very bright future ahead of him," Sudarshana added.

"He has an incredible action, but lands the ball in the right areas. (He is a) lovely kid and has a good future," said Sarath Asoka, "He has an incredible action, but lands the ball in the right areas. (He is a) lovely kid and has a good future."

 

[WengerOut]

That hurts even looking at it. Similar to Shivil Kaushik from India.

 

[MenInG]

That hurts even looking at it. Similar to Shivil Kaushik from India.

Surely a candidate for some future injury?

 

[Stallion__]

Since his action is unique, the batsmen get confused.

He is only going to confuse himself with that action.

 

[GBK_Fan]

That's a very awkward action. Don't see him lasting long

 

[kingusama92]

Might need to see a chiropractor soon with that action.

 

[Ellipsism]

Makes Paul Adams look orthodox

 

[wrongun]

All the advice to people to change their natural action is 99% wrong (see Jimmy Anderson, Paul Adams etc). This guy can't transition to a normal action from there. He is best trying to hone his current one.

Paul Adams had no real injury issues and at the time (and today!) coaching manuals say Bardman's pick up angle is all wrong. There isn't one way to play cricket and Sri lanka more than any nation embrace that, with guys like Murali & Malinga & to a lesser extent Jayawardene complimenting the technically correct likes of Vaas, Jayawardene and Marvan Attapatu.

Good luck to him, it's his ability to adapt to international cricket & grow his game rather than his action that will define his career.

 

[WengerOut]

Well i am not an expert in bowling , but that kind of action makes the body go through so much tension without imparting any of it into the actual event of that delivery. I kind of confused myself with that sentence when in fact i should have simply said , he wont be able to impart more rip to his bowling.

 

[CricFan2012]

Sri Lanka should employ these mystery bowlers in knock outs during world cups, gets the best use out of them as opposition can't study the bowlers because a lack of material. As long as they're not chucking this can be a very intelligent tactic

 

[Syed1]

He will rip through India once or twice and then fade away in history. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Justcrazy]

Teams will sort out him soon , after that he will keep on improving to keep ahead of opposition.

 

[MenInG]

Mumbai, Nov 15: Sri Lanka's new mysterious spinner Kevin Koththigoda's bowling action is quite similar to South Africa's slow-left arm chinaman bowler Paul Adams action, but it was not moulded to Paul Adams, insisted his coach Piyal Salgadu.

Koththigoda was initially nurtured by former Sri Lanka 'A' opener Dhammika Sudarshana at Richmond College, Galle's leading school that has produced several Test cricketers. But it was Piyal Salgadu, who coached him at Mahinda College, the rival of Richmond College.

Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Colombo, he says, "Yes, he is very similar to Paul Adams and when i saw him first i thought that because of his unique and unorthodox action he could be a challenge to batsman".

"Of course he had not seen Adams before. The challenge in bowling with such an action was being consistent. He was more focused on turning the ball a lot. Thus he was erratic".

"I made him to increase his accuracy by getting him to do lot of spot bowling. There after when he regained his accuracy he was too slow of the air. I had to improve that aspect. I worked on that as well".

"Kevins action is also natural to him and it was not molded to be like Paul Adams".

"Kevin was a committed boy. I had to just guide him and he was willing to work hard. He needed confidence and I told him because of his unique action that he could be special", the coach signed off.

http://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=106156