The right-arm spinner's first-class career is not even two years old, he has played just eight one-day internationals and hasn't made his Test debut, though it is a given that he will figure in the squad, if not the eleven, for the first Test against India. In 19 first-class games, he has amassed 111 wickets at 14.54; eight one-day internationals have yielded a staggering 20 scalps, but former Sri Lankan stumper Ranjit Fernando cautions against getting carried away.

"His biggest tests lie immediately ahead," Fernando, now a television commentator, told Deccan Herald on Friday. "Yes, he had a great Asia Cup and took six wickets in the final against India, but how he fares in Test cricket, against a quality line-up, will be interesting to see. Batsmen will not be under pressure to constantly score off him. They can afford to take their time and figure out what his bag of tricks contains. How he responds to that will be fascinating to watch."

His bag of tricks is quite fascinating as it is. Legend has it -- embellished, no doubt -- that he can bowl six different deliveries! He isn't the greatest turner of the ball; a majority of his victims have been bowled or trapped leg before, his bewildering use of the fingers catching batsmen off-guard.

Fernando said that it would be too naive to expect a quick fix when it comes to picking his variations. "There is no magic formula. The trick is to watch the ball as closely as possible. Each batsman will have to figure out individual ways of tackling him. I was very impressed with what Sangakkara said the other day -- that he kept wickets to Mendis for an hour on the eve of a one-day game. Sangakkara added that gradually, it became easier for him to read Mendis. I guess the same applies to batsmen as well."

Batsmen had found it difficult initially to pick other 'finger flickers' like Australians Jack Iverson and John Gleeson before coming to grips with their unique release. "Ajantha will also face this situation as his career progresses. But we all know he is different; apart from his release, he also doesn't thrive on bounce unlike most spinners. I am excited!"

Indian coach Gary Kirsten has termed Mendis' arrival 'exciting for world cricket'. How long will the excitement last?