Kevin Koththgoda: Meet Sri Lanka's latest mystery spinner with an unusual action

[Kool_SRG]

The Lankans always have a surprise package in store for the big times and this time they have conjured up right-arm spinner Kevin Koththgodda from the U-19 squad.

Sri Lanka is a team full of surprises and this time they have a bowler whose unique action is 'out of this world'. Kevin Koththgoda, a teenager who is currently representing Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup U-19 squad which is being held in Malaysia, has the art of bowling without seeing where the ball is moving. His actions are compared to South Africa chinaman, Paul Addams. 

The Lankans always have a surprise package in store for the big times. Bowlers like Ajanta Mendis, Akila Dananjaya have demolished batting line-ups, stunning the batsmen with their swing and their ability is always discovered against a team like India. 

It was former Sri Lanka 'A' player Dhammika Sudarshana who told Cricbuzz about the youngster's ability that can help the Lankans add another bullet to their gun. Sudarshana compared the unorthodox spinner to Paul Addams, but the only difference between two is that the South African legend was a left-arm spinner where Kevin is a right-arm bowler.

Kevin, who is currently playing in the Asia Cup, took a wicket and helped his team win by 61 runs.

"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.

Sudarshana, who took Kevin under his wings, helped the right-arm bowler change schools in desperate times.

 

"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.

Former cricketer and now umpire Sarath Asoka lauded the youngster and said that he has a bright future ahead of him. Asoka made these comments about the bowler in the matches he has officiated where Kevin has played.

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

"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

The U-19 star does indeed have a long and bright future ahead of him, but with Sri Lanka who were currently whitewashed by India 9-0 at home, thrashed by Pakistan in the ODI and T20 series, and now again face India in their backyard for a three-Test series, will have to revamp their squad and now knowing of the youngster's ability of surprise, they may add Kevin in their arsenal sooner than later.

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

 

[Kool_SRG]

 

[Kool_SRG]

Will be interesting to see how long he survives....

[reality]

Paul Adams type??

[Kool_SRG]

Just now, reality said:

Paul Adams type??

Yes....Only thing is he is right handed..

 

[reality]

2 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

Yes....Only thing is he is right handed..

 

just saw the video...looks similar.

[MAYURI_BPO]

bowling veyyadaaniki antha kastam endhuku vayya ardham kaadhu .. evaru chepparaa ila endhu vesthaaru ani .. matta lo action la undhi ... rendu rojulu news lo undataaniki thappa ...

naaku oka doubt bhayya ball vesina gantaki gaani vadu correct shape ki raadu .. alantappudu reverse lo batsman ball kodithey thagalraani chota thaglithey enti paristhithi .. 

[Kontekurradu]

48 minutes ago, reality said:

Paul Adams type??

na bowling action kuda vedi lekke vundtadi 

[Kool_SRG]

40 minutes ago, MAYURI_BPO said:

bowling veyyadaaniki antha kastam endhuku vayya ardham kaadhu .. evaru chepparaa ila endhu vesthaaru ani .. matta lo action la undhi ... rendu rojulu news lo undataaniki thappa ...

naaku oka doubt bhayya ball vesina gantaki gaani vadu correct shape ki raadu .. alantappudu reverse lo batsman ball kodithey thagalraani chota thaglithey enti paristhithi .. 

By the time ball is landing he is back to normal position so aah problem undadu..

[perugu_vada]

Entha mystery aina control lekapothe batsman will go after them

[Kool_SRG]

20 minutes ago, Kontekurradu said:

na bowling action kuda vedi lekke vundtadi 

[tennisluvr]

Paul Adams legend aaa, thokkem kaadu. He was more famous for his bowling action than his performance in cricket. Paul Adams ni picha kottudu kottaru appatlo manollu, manolle kaadu even Australian batsmen like Gilchrist destroyed him. 

Veediki same fate, except I don't think he will even last as long as Paul Adams did. 

Btw, appatlo Ajantha Mendis next Muralitharan annaru emayindi ippudu vaadiki? Even at his peak, Sehwag literally tore his bowling apart. Remember that 201*. 

[Manikyam]

28 minutes ago, Kontekurradu said:

na bowling action kuda vedi lekke vundtadi 

ball pitch meda veyali bedaru gully point kada kadu