It was an overwhelming moment for every cricket loving fan in Sri Lanka, though it was an outcome which many expected sooner or later, when Mahela Jayawardane (Maiya) and Kumar Sangakkara (Sanga) confirmed their retirement from ODI Cricket at the end of the upcoming World cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Though we are still be able to witness more of ‘Sangakkara’ in the longer version of the game, both of them will be highly missed in the most competitive arena designed for the entertainment of cricket fans when they retire with the hopes of winning the Cricket World Cup, yet again.
Some might say that these two dynamic cricketers cannot be compared to the likes of Don Bradman, Wally Hammond, Viv Richards, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar but their contribution to world Cricket should considered to be at the same level as any cricketing greats in the world. So this tribute is for Sanga and Maiya, who have proven how formidable Sri Lankans can be with the bat as individuals, as partners and as leaders to the rest of the world.
Maiya orchestrated his capabilities as a batsman from the day he started playing for Sri Lanka and reached thus far as one of the most influential captains and as an innovative batsman that Sri Lanka has produced. However, his partner in crime, Sanga took his time to improve himself, since he debuted in 2000, to become the batsman he is today, routine-training and progression elevated him to be the Greatest Batsman of his generation whilst coming second to the greatest cricketer of all-time, Sir Don Bradman.
Mahela Jayawardane, an early bloomer, was destined to be one of the cricketing giants in the world from the instance he was handed a bat as a young school cricketer. He was soon on his way to the Sri Lanka national team, where all cricket fans in and even his senior team mates had high expectations on his capacity not only as a batsman, but as a leader of men from day one. Making 66 runs on his debut match against India in 1997, he posed himself as a force to be reckoned with and displayed his class as an inimitable batsman with some of his favourite shots; the languid cover drive, flick off the leg, late cut and dab against both spin and pace which allowed him to leap into the class of 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs and joined the ranks among the greatest cricketers ever to play the game. Regarded as a big match player, his ability to maneuver the ball precisely into gaps by innovating shots with his impressive hand-eye combination, fascinated many around the world and helped Sri Lanka to win many matches in the past and present time.
However, Cricketing pundits deem him not only to be an illustrious batsman of his generation but also as a master tactician and to be one of the most successful captains of all-time. His captaincy stint, which includes the 2007 world cup finals, exemplified his ability as a captain in studying the game throughout and approaching the opposition with various tactics without the fear of taking risks so that the Sri Lanka team would be one of the most aggressive and competitive teams in International Cricket regardless of any given result. Mahela Jayawardane is well-known for his composed attitude in the field when he captains whilst expanding his authority up to the dressing room where he earned respect from everyone for his wisdom and reached the expected goals with success alongside the rest of the team, especially winning Test matches outside sub-continent region.
On the other hand, Kumar Sangakkara, a late bloomer, grew steadily as he burgeoned to be the finest of his generation in Test and ODI Cricket thus far. Once a Law student, was not the wicket-keeper or the batsman Sri Lankan Cricket fans expected to replace ‘Little Kalu’ (Romesh Kaluwithrana) but everyone saw a trace of light in his style of batting and enthusiasm in his eyes when scoring runs. As a young lion, he was excited to be among the great names in Sri Lanka Cricket when he joined the team, yet, his wicket-keeping was not in par with his batting capability but assured that he was remembered with his astute sledging against any opposition batsmen. However, he began to improve as more opportunities were thrown at him so that he could fit into the Sri Lanka Cricket team and an exciting talent to be recognized. As he grasped the opportunities, he broke through to be the key player of the team and claimed the number three batting position with the ongoing success not only in Sri Lanka but outside sub-continent as well. As every Sri Lankan fans would agree ‘it is a delight to see how Sanga plays a cover drive by easing on his front foot’, but his pull, cut through the off and stylish straight drive making no difference to his precious cover drive.
He soon became a threat to any opposition when he settled down at the crease or behind. The elegance in his batting and sheer determination to be the best in the team pushed him to be the most successful Sri Lankan batsman of all-time scoring more than 25,000 runs in all formats of the game, even passing his best friend, Mahela Jayawardane during the cause. His incredible persona, not only as a cricketer but as a speaker, magnified when he delivered ‘the most important speech in Cricket history’, according to many in the cricketing community, at the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lords in 2011 on history and the corruption in the cricket administration in Sri Lanka becoming the youngest and the first current player to do so.
Succeeded to the captaincy after Mahela Jayawardane, with a higher winning percentage and average for a Sri Lankan ODI captain, he rallied the team to another World cup final in 2011, just as his former. Kumar Sangakkara then won the top prize at 2012’s ICC awards, including the award for Test Cricketer of the Year and the People’s Choice award for the second time.
Both Sanga and Mahela are cricketing ambassadors in spreading the good will and the spirit of cricket around the world, especially among young cricketers who are to be future leaders and exciting cricketing prospects. Not only Sri Lankan youngsters but even young batsmen around the world will idolize them and mimic their batting styles fancying that one day they will be batting greats as Sanga and Mahela. However, though their careers will be remembered for many reasons one stands out above the rest, which is their friendship on and off the field and the most successful partnership that the game has ever seen. Apart from the differences in their styles of batting and leadership, both have out-spoken personas with no fear in expressing their sincere opinion at any given moment, tremendous ability to absorb pressure at any given circumstance and the determination to be the best at what they do at any given opportunity. The significant partnership affirms the trust and the understanding between the two which resulted with a mammoth score of 624 runs for the third wicket against South Africa creating a new world record in 2006. Though they stand below Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for the most hundred partnerships in Test cricket, they will be penned down on the history of Cricket as the most influential batting duo ever to be seen from Sri Lanka. It is the end of an era, an era of pure class of batters, end of a precious chapter in the history of Sri Lanka Cricket, will Sri Lanka be the same without the two greats? It is for you to decide.
Cheers to the all-time greats, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane! Best of luck boys and Thank you for the entertainment but most importantly, we honour you two for the bestowed glory and remarkable service rendered to our country!
