SRI Lanka's star wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has sent out a strong message a couple of days prior to the Test series against India: If Mendis don't get you, Murali will.

In his column for London's Telegraph newspaper, Sangakkara writes: "The prospect of him (Ajantha Mendis) joining forces with Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) in this series is particularly mouth-watering. Their accuracy, skill and shrewd cricket brains will make life extremely difficult for India."

Sangakkara highlighted Mendis' popularity by stating that a clip on YouTube had recorded 84,817 views. At 11 pm last night, one clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL9-D-Hp2GI) had 88, 386 views.

Mendis shot into prominence recently with his 6 for 13 in Lanka's Asia Cup final win over India in Karachi. Sangakkara added: "The secret of his dramatic success, however, is not merely his variety, but his pin-point accuracy.

As far as I can see, all great bowlers have one simple thing in common: mastery of control. Mendis, like Murali and Shane Warne, appears to have that same ability to pitch the ball on a coin."

The first India vs Sri Lanka Test kicks off in Colombo on Wednesday.