"What can you say? It's one of the best innings I've ever seen," Ford said on Friday (July 29). "He seemed to have a plan - and option - against all the bowlers. He showed real composure. The odd one did explode and turn on him but he didn't bother about the previous delivery. He just focused on the next ball and got on with the job. He is an amazing talent. He works really hard and really loves the game."
Mendis' blistering knock helped the hosts turn the game around after conceding an 86-run first innings lead. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 353 on the fourth day, giving the visitors a target of 268. The match is now tantalisingly poised with Australia needing 185 runs on the final day with seven wickets in hand.
In a career that is only 15 international matches old, Mendis has never managed to register a century prior to this one. Even though he got some starts in the Test series against England, he failed to make them count.
"He's batted at no. 3 in all formats across the last couple of months, and shown wonderful maturity," Ford said. "He's shown signs each time of the possibility of making big scores. There have been really exciting cameos each time, but fortunately now he's got one of those big innings under his belt, it will hopefully lead to a lot more.
"He also just seems an extremely relaxed young man. Nothing really fazes him. He enjoys playing and he can't wait to get out there and bat. Doesn't seem to show any signs of nerves. He plays positively and plays his shots. He went to his hundred with a six - no nervous nineties. He definitely puts a lot of thought into it.
He works hard. But there's no signs of him being too bothered, or worried about failure, which is quite a nice way of going about his business."
Ford is pleased that the management's decision to persist with Mendis at No. 3 has finally paid dividends. He also went on to reveal that the 21-year-old might not have had a chance to bat consistently at the top of the order had the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene still been around the set-up.
"Had you still had the Sangas and the Mahela Jayawardenes, Kusal would have ideally been blooded at no. 6 or 7," he said. "But without anybody really putting their hand up to grab that no. 3 spot, we thought he was the guy to get in and had the technique to handle it. Each time he went out there he looked like he had real capabilities to become a world-class and match-winning no. 3. So we decided to run with him and he's paid us back."
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