Kumar Sangakkara - Sri Lanka's Run Machine With a Touch of Grace
Kumar Sangakkara has scored 27,921 international runs from 592 games across all formats since his debut in 2000.
November 20, 2007. Sri Lanka were chasing an improbable target of 507 against Australia in Hobart. The hosts had the upper hand as Brett Lee was bowling with fire. However, in the midst of it all, one man held his ground. A 30-year-old left-hander was writing poetry with the bat as runs seemed to flow at will. Kumar Sangakkara was on song, and the Aussies were dancing to his tune.(Sangakkara to End Career vs India in Colombo)
Sangakkara eventually fell for 192, Sri Lanka lost by 96 runs. Yet, for that brief moment, it seemed they could save the game -- possibly even win it. The feeling of hope while Sangakkara is at the crease purely reflects his importance in the batting line-up.(Jayasuriya Hails Sangakkara)
Fast forward to 2013 in Colombo against South Africa. Sangakkara yet again displayed his class. Shots packed with a mixture of power and grace thundered past the fielders. Effortlessly, the veteran notched up 169 and saw his team win the game by 180 runs.
Sangakkara has always had a hunger for big scores. As many as 11 of his 38 Test tons have been converted into double hundreds. His personal best is 319 against Bangladesh. He is currently fifth in the list of top run-getters in Tests.(Sangakkara Creates World Cup Record in Sydney)
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In ODIs, he is only second behind Sachin Tendulkar. When one considers he has double duty as wicket-keeper, it only adds to how vital Sangakkara is in the Sri Lanka setup. Now in the twilight of his career, the 37-year-old will go down as the greatest batsman to have played for the Lankans.
Sangakkara bids farewell to international cricket after playing the second of the three Tests against India in Colombo (August 20-24). He quit ODIs after Sri Lanka lost in the World Cup quarters. Last year, he called time on his T20 career when Sri Lanka won the World Twenty20 Championship. If he scores two more double hundreds, it will take him past Don Bradman's record of 12.
The run machine that he has been for the last 15 years, Sangakkara's quick and consistent scoring has more often been the difference between victory and defeat. Picking up the mantle after the likes of Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya was no easy task, but he did it with perfection.
In tandem with long-time friend Mahela Jayawardene, Sangakkara formed one of the most devastating batting partnerships. A case in point would be his 287 against South Africa in 2006 when the duo put on 624 -- a record for any wicket in Tests.
Come August, Sri Lanka will say goodbye to one of their all-time greats. As a matter of fact, cricket as a whole will be poorer as a player who personified elegance in his stroke-play shall grace the field no more.
Can Sangakkara sign off in a blaze of glory? If he ends on a high, then it will be the fitting finale to a glittering career. Maybe one last cover-drive on the front foot before it's all over.
He is certainly preparing well for the India series. An excellent 110 for Surrey against Kent clearly indicates that age is just a number. So the batting maestro's confidence is high and the Indians will be happy to see the back of him as quickly as possible.
Whatever his final score, there is no doubt Sangakkara, a gentleman to the core, has set a benchmark for Sri Lankan batsmen to aspire for.