The autobiography of Nelson Mendis – a cricket coach for all seasons

Cricket coaches are renowned for putting out publications that deal largely on the techniques of cricket. Having done that in 2024 with the publication titled ‘The Cricket Basics’, Nelson Mendis, a household name when it comes to cricket coaching, has come out with his memoirs ‘Disciplining Many’ which was launched on 21 February.  

Seldom do cricket coaches come out with their life stories, but this publication is unique in that it deals with the life and times of a great cricket coach who has devoted his lifetime to cricket coaching.

Mendis gained his basic knowledge on cricket coaching by reading coaching manuals ‘The Art of Cricket’ by Sir Donald Bradman and the MCC Cricket Coaching Manual as he states, which helped him build many junior cricket champion teams at Nalanda from U12 to U17 levels.

The majority know Mendis as a reputed cricket coach but seldom do people know that he was the first eleven cricket captain of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda in 1957, the year when Michael Tissera was captain of St. Thomas’ College, ML, Lasantha Rodrigo captain of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa and Anuruddha Polonowita captain of Ananda College – all three of whom went onto represent the country with distinction.

Apart from coaching, Mendis has also served as an administrator at the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, Sri Lanka Cricket (then known as Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka), the Mercantile Cricket Association and the Association of Cricket Umpires, Sri Lanka. He brings in his vast knowledge not only in cricket coaching but in other fields as well.

The fact that under Mendis’ guidance he has produced 15 cricketers who have gone onto represent Sri Lanka in Test cricket is testimony to his quality as a cricket coach. There are several others who have played for Sri Lanka in the white ball format as well ODIs and T20Is. Mendis has spent 65 of his 87 years as a cricket coach largely at Nalanda College. He still continues to coach at his own cricket coaching school named the CCC School of Cricket at the CCC grounds which he began in 1998, after retiring from Singer (Sri Lanka) having completed 18 years with them. The cricket school continues to thrive to this day churning out cricketers with values which is Mendis’ common trait.

“What I enjoy most in coaching cricket is to inculcate discipline in my students, which I learnt through my great teachers under whose guidance I was lucky enough to be when I was a student,” states Mendis in his autobiography.

Mendis picks former Sri Lanka captain Roshan Mahanama as undoubtedly the best, complete cricketer and gentleman to come under his guidance. “He is a living example of a gentleman cricketer for budding cricketers to follow. He is well read, composed and possesses a very high standard of communication and public relations skills. His knowledge about the subject – cricket is remarkable and he is a very good reader of the game.”  

The book is illustrated with several rare pictures (both colour and black and white) and stories related by Mendis which not only depicts his character but makes it a fascinating publication that makes it a must for any lover of books to peruse not only the cricket connoisseur. 

The 320-page book has been compiled by Athula Jayasekera with Wasantha Siriwardena providing the book design, cover and illustrations. It is published by Nelson Mendis and priced at Rs. 3,000. 

– (ST)