Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis has been named as Men’s Emerging Cricket Educator of the Year 2024 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after his impressive performances in the red-ball format.
Mendis, who has scored 1,451 runs across all formats at an average of just over 50, will line up alongside some of cricket’s greats in 2024.
After just one Test appearance for Sri Lanka before the year started, the left-hander finished the year not only cementing his place as a key player in all formats but also becoming Sri Lanka’s go-to player in moments of crisis and high-risk situations.
He played a pivotal role during Sri Lanka’s campaign to the final position in the ICC World Test Championship.
The 26-year-old has delivered a string of crucial innings, making him one of the six batsmen to cross 1,000 Test overs in the calendar year, and has averaged the highest.
The middle-order batsman made the most of his chances, hitting five centuries and three fifties in his impressive career tally.
His match-winning contributions helped Sri Lanka secure vital Test victories against New Zealand, Bangladesh and England, at home and abroad.
In England, Mendis finished as Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in the three-Test series and was instrumental in their first Test win on English soil in a decade.
Mendis’ most notable performance came in the second Test against New Zealand in Galle, where he achieved his best score in the longest.
His unbeaten 182 in the first innings was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s total of 602/5 and played a key role in the 2-0 sweep of the series.
The impressive knock, which included 16 boundaries and four sixes off 250 balls, earned him the Player of the Match award.
Mendis also became the joint-fastest third to score 1,000 runs in men’s Tests, equaling Sir Don Bradman’s record of reaching the flag in just 13 innings.
“Winning two Cricketer of the Month awards in 2024, along with being named Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year, fills me with great joy. The game, with the unwavering support of my coaches, teammates, family and friends,” said Mendes.
“Playing international cricket has always been a childhood dream and to have the opportunity to showcase my skills on such a platform is an honor and a result of such relentless effort.
“Looking to the future, my goal is to continue to build on my early performances in the international field and use it as a stepping stone to reach the highest level of excellence in the sport.
“I would also like to acknowledge the immense talent of my fellow nominees – Gus, Shamar and Saim – all of whom are exceptional players.”