Sri Lanka's former skipper Kumar Sangakkara batted out of his skin to save Sri Lanka from a humiliating defeat against Pakistan. Sangakkara scored a double ton to help Sri Lanka salvage a draw from the worst of situations of test match cricket. Pakistan scored a mammoth 511 in reply to Lanka's 197 and then Sri Lanka scored 483 runs courtesy Sanga's double ton to secure the draw. Sangakkara's 211 run innings showed his character and showed that among Tendulkar, Ponting and Kallis even his name deserves a special mention. He is Sri Lanka's ultimate unsung legend.
Sangakkara has been one of Sri Lanka's greatest batting assets for the past 11 years. His performances in both tests and one dayers have been phenomenal. Lanka's Wicket keeper batsman has an amazing record to his name. The 101 test veteran has scored 8864 runs at an average of 56.45 with a strike rate of 54.82. He has 26 centuries and 36 half centuries to his name and a best of 287. He bats at number 3 and has an impeccable batting technique. The stylish left hander has been performing consistently for Sri Lanka for the past 10 years and has been one of the main reasons for Sri Lanka's ascent to the top teams in the last decade. He is that kind of a player who keeps hitting the purple patch now and then and comes to the rescue whenever the team requires him.
Sangakkara has many a times saved Sri Lanka from defeats by playing out of his skin. The recent innings against Pakistan and the one against England this June where in a similar situation he scored a hundred in the 2nd innings to help Lanka secure a draw clearly show his resilience and focus. Sri Lanka was always considered a force at home but minnows outside. But what is startling about Sangakkara is his performance away from home. In 43 tests away from home he has scored 3713 runs at an average of 50.17 with 10 hundreds. that shows he is the same regardless of the venue. Also he averages 71 in matches Sri Lanka has won. Also another feature of his is his performance in the 3rd or 4th innings of a test match. In the 3rd or 4th innings he has scored 3341 runs at an average of 54.77 which is quite comparable to his overall average of 56! Also 11 of his 26 hundreds have come in the 3rd or 4th innings!
Then why is such a great player not included in the list of contemporary legends. Whenever we talk about great test batsman of modern era, we talk about Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Lara or Dravid but nobody says Sangakkara. Even in Sri Lanka people worship Ranatunga, Jayasuriya or Murali but Sangakkara's contribution is often ignored. The man has consistently scored runs for Sri Lanka and deserves to be mentioned alongside Tendulkar, Ponting and others. Infact he is one of the major contributors to Sri Lankan cricket and also world cricket. Sri Lankan team is heavily dependent on his services and alongwith Jayawardene he is the pillar of Sri Lankan middle order. Its time to include one more man among the contemporary legends. KUMAR SANGAKKARA!!
Sangakkara has been one of Sri Lanka's greatest batting assets for the past 11 years. His performances in both tests and one dayers have been phenomenal. Lanka's Wicket keeper batsman has an amazing record to his name. The 101 test veteran has scored 8864 runs at an average of 56.45 with a strike rate of 54.82. He has 26 centuries and 36 half centuries to his name and a best of 287. He bats at number 3 and has an impeccable batting technique. The stylish left hander has been performing consistently for Sri Lanka for the past 10 years and has been one of the main reasons for Sri Lanka's ascent to the top teams in the last decade. He is that kind of a player who keeps hitting the purple patch now and then and comes to the rescue whenever the team requires him.
Sangakkara has many a times saved Sri Lanka from defeats by playing out of his skin. The recent innings against Pakistan and the one against England this June where in a similar situation he scored a hundred in the 2nd innings to help Lanka secure a draw clearly show his resilience and focus. Sri Lanka was always considered a force at home but minnows outside. But what is startling about Sangakkara is his performance away from home. In 43 tests away from home he has scored 3713 runs at an average of 50.17 with 10 hundreds. that shows he is the same regardless of the venue. Also he averages 71 in matches Sri Lanka has won. Also another feature of his is his performance in the 3rd or 4th innings of a test match. In the 3rd or 4th innings he has scored 3341 runs at an average of 54.77 which is quite comparable to his overall average of 56! Also 11 of his 26 hundreds have come in the 3rd or 4th innings!
Then why is such a great player not included in the list of contemporary legends. Whenever we talk about great test batsman of modern era, we talk about Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Lara or Dravid but nobody says Sangakkara. Even in Sri Lanka people worship Ranatunga, Jayasuriya or Murali but Sangakkara's contribution is often ignored. The man has consistently scored runs for Sri Lanka and deserves to be mentioned alongside Tendulkar, Ponting and others. Infact he is one of the major contributors to Sri Lankan cricket and also world cricket. Sri Lankan team is heavily dependent on his services and alongwith Jayawardene he is the pillar of Sri Lankan middle order. Its time to include one more man among the contemporary legends. KUMAR SANGAKKARA!!
Hi Vaibhav
ReplyDeletei agree with your article, i think Sangakara is one of the finest batsmen in the sri lanka cricket
hello cricket gossiper!!!
ReplyDeleteNot only sri lanka cricket but world cricket as well! its time to put him in the league of the tendulkars and kallis.