Having bamboozled batsmen in the recent Asia Cup, Sri Lanka's [Images] 'mystery' spinner Ajantha Mendis sought to put Indian batsmen on the backfoot ahead of the Test series by Thursday disclosing that he was working on a new delivery to add more variety to his armoury.

15 Tests, 35 ODIs

"I am new to this game (Tests). I have five different deliveries and am working on the sixth," Mendis told reporters.

Mendis said all he planned to do was to aim and bowl at the right spots.

Mendis said he was looking forward to bowling to the top Indian batting line-up alongside his idol Muthiah Muralitharan in the three Test series at home starting on July 23.

"Murali is my idol and I want to bowl alongside him. It will be a great opportunity for me. I want to bowl at the right places (against the top Indian line-up)," said the 23-year-old bowler, with Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga acting as his interpreter.

Mendis, who had flattened the Indian team in the Asia Cup final with a staggering six-wicket haul for very few runs, said he had so far played 19 first class games and taken over one hundred wickets.

"It's an honour to bowl alongside Murali and to the top Indian batsmen like Rahul (Dravid), Sachin (Tendulkar), (Sourav) Ganguly and (VVS) Laxman," he said.

Speaking about the series, Ranatunga said he had always found a Test rubber against India to be fiercely fought.

"It's a very important series for both teams. I have always felt that playing against India has been one of the toughest tasks whether it be in Lanka or in India.

"We have a new bowling sensation (Mendis). I don't like to call him a freak but he's a freak. We are lucky to come across such bowlers once in ten years, the previous one being Murali", the 1996 World Cup winning skipper said.

"Ajantha has done well in ODIs and I am sure he would do well in Tests too though I can't say he would play as I am not a selector and can't pick him. It would be a big challenge for him to bowl to top Indian batsmen like Rahul, Sachin, Ganguly and Laxman," he said.

"The series may see Sachin go past (Brian) Lara's record (the master batsman needs 171 more to become the highest run-getter in Test cricket) or we may see him struggling against Mendis", Ranatunga said.

"Sri Lanka have not played well in Tests over the last two years. After losing to Lanka in the Asia Cup, India will be eager to do well. It will be a good, competitive series," Ranatunga predicted.

Ranatunga expressed himself totally in favour of the experimental umpires referral system to be used in the series.

"As far as I am concerned if technology is available it should be used to the full. Or otherwise don't use it at all. I am happy with the ICC's [Images] move to experiment with this system," he said.

As per the system the decisions of the on-field umpires can be challenged by the two captains up to a limited number per innings and they would be referred to the third umpire for review.

Photograph: Arun Patil