Sanath Jayasuriya Interview - 'Kumble's contribution to cricket huge'

Sri Lanka's champion batsman Jayasuriya pays tribute to former India captain

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya believes that Anil Kumble retired from the sport at the right time, but was of the opinion that he could have returned to his best had he opted to continue at the top level. The veteran batsman speaking from Hong Kong where he will represent the All Stars team at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes that gets underway on Saturday hailed Kumble's contribution to the sport.

"As a team we have a lot of respect for Anil. The fact that he practiced a very difficult art for 19 long years speaks of his commitment and passion for the sport," the former Sri Lanka captain said.

Kumble announced his retirement during the recent Delhi Test after he split a finger that required 11 stitches.

"Earlier on in his career, we had a set plan to counter him on a theory based on Aravinda de Silva's assessment during the mid 90s, but later, we found that he had worked on a few variations and we had to adapt quickly. Anil was a quick learner and something that made him a tough opponent was his understanding that at the top level you need to keep on improving," Jayasuriya said.

Kumble struggled towards the end of his career as he picked up just eight wickets in a three Test series in Sri Lanka and then in the series opener against Australia, he failed to pick up a wicket in Bangalore and then missed the second Test in Mohali due to a shoulder injury before returning to the side in the Delhi Test where he announced his retirement with India still leading the series.

"He was struggling a bit here and the injuries weren't healing as fast as he would have liked so that would have forced him to retire. But I have no doubt in my mind that he would have returned to his best if not for the unfortunate injury in Delhi," Jayasuriya added.
"Very few people realize that he's the third highest wicket taker in the world. Warne, Murali and Anil have taken spin bowling to a different level and this will be remembered as the golden era of spin bowling."

"He was a decent lad, but that doesn't mean he wasn't tough. Very intelligent as well and a chat on cricket with him was always interesting and I liked his company," Jayasuriya said.

Kumble was part of the Indian side as Jayasuriya mauled the Indian attack on his way to a marathon 340 as Sri Lanka posted a World Record 952 for six declared at R. Premadasa where he purchased a solitary wicket for 223 runs.

"The wicket was flat but I tell you what, it wasn't easy batting against him. Your concentration level had to be extremely high when you bat for that long and all what it takes is one mistake. I didn't get out to him, but he dismissed Roshan (Mahanama) after our huge partnership and soon I was out too to Rajesh Chauhan," Jayasuriya remembered.

Sanath Jayasuriya haunted me when I was playing - Stephen Fleming

England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has no intention of pulling on his pads and walking out to bat at this weekend’s Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.

For the Yorkshire pace ace is part of an All-Stars team that boasts the best batting line-up in the history of the tournament.

Leading the way will be the world’s highest ranked batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies.

Also featuring for the All-Stars will be the great Australian opener Justin Langer, Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and big-hitting Twenty20 king Tyron Henderson from South Africa.

And captain Fleming is hoping his new teammates play as well as they did when he faced them during his illustrious 111-test career.

“If they don’t bowl like they used to bowl to me, or bat the way they used to bat when I was fielding against them, I’ll be disappointed,” he said.

“Sanath Jayasuriya haunted me when I was playing and Chaminda Vaas used to get me out with his eyes shut, so if we don’t get wickets and runs then I’ll be upset!”

The All-Stars have been drawn in the Sobers group alongside defending champions Sri Lanka, Australia and hosts Hong Kong.

All Stars banking on Jayasuriya fireworks | Hong Kong Sixes

Sri Lankan great faces compatriots in clash of the day

Sri Lanka star Sanath Jayasuriya once played second fiddle to compatriots Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga at the Hong Kong Sixes in the early 1990s but he is expected to hog the limelight at Kowloon Cricket Club this weekend.

Jayasuriya will not be in the colours of his country, but for the All Stars in the US$200,000 tournament.

"I don't remember when exactly I played here. It was a long time ago, in the early days," Jayasuriya said after a short training session yesterday.

Then, he walked in the shadow of De Silva and Ranatunga. But all that has changed, ever since the 1996 World Cup triumph over Australia when Jayasuriya made his mark as the pinch-hitter to transform the nature of one-day cricket.

Now pushing 40, Jayasuirya is also still pushing the boundaries. He was one of the stars in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai and last month spearheaded Sri Lanka to victory over Pakistan in the final of a Twenty20 tournament in Canada.

"I have given up test cricket and only play the short form of the game now. I have no regrets at all and I'm still enjoying myself hugely," Jayasuriya said. "I'm really looking forward to the Sixes."

All Star captain Stephen Fleming, a former New Zealand skipper, is hoping his two teammates from Sri Lanka - fast bowler Chaminda Vaas is also in the side - will lead the way in batting and bowling.

"If they don't bowl like they used to bowl to me, or bat the way they used to bat when I was fielding against them, I will be disappointed," Fleming said. "Sanath Jayasuriya haunted me when I was playing and Chaminda Vaas used to get me out with his eyes shut, so if we don't get wickets and runs, then I'll be upset."

The pair will face their countrymen and defending champions Sri Lanka in a mouthwatering clash this afternoon. "It will be kind of strange playing against my country," Jayasuriya said.

Sri Lanka, led by Indika de Saram, have come back with four players who were part of the Cup-winning team last year. Apart from their skipper, the others are Jeewantha Kulatunga, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Dilhara Lokuhettige.

"We have got a strong squad of all-rounders, five of whom bowl medium-pacers with one off-spinner. These guys are all in good form, having played in a Twenty20 tournament back home recently," said manager Ranil Abeynaike. "This tournament is being shown live in Sri Lanka and the public are expecting the boys to do well again."

The All Stars, Sri Lanka, Australia and hosts Hong Kong are in one group, while the other comprises India, Pakistan, England and South Africa. The top two from each group enter the Cup competition tomorrow. "We are in a tough draw, but I expect us to do very well," said England skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas. "We have a good all round side with a number of young blokes who are all keen to do well."

Sanath Jayasuriya vs Indika de Saram | Hometown mates to light up the Hong Kong Sixes

Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya will come up against hometown mate Indika de Saram, who will lead a strong Sri Lanka outfit at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on November 8-9 at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

De Saram. who captained Sri Lanka to a memorable victory over the All Stars in last year's final, will be back again with three other players - Jeewantha Kulatunga, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Kaushalya Weeraratne - who figured in the 16-run victory 12 months ago, which gave the island-nation their first win in Hong Kong.

The rest of the squad will be made up of talented all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon - who played at last year's Twenty20 World Cup and has figured here in the past - Chintaka Jayasinghe and Muthumudulige Pushpakumara.

"It is a good side who has the potential to win again," said former Sri Lankan test spearhead Rumesh Ratnayake, who is in town in his role as development manager with the Asian Cricket Council.

De Saram and Jayasuriya - who both come from Matara in the south of the island - are known to hit the ball a long way.

De Saram made a top score of 40 in the final against the All Stars last year, treating leg-spinner Shane Warne with disdain, as Sri Lanka rattled up 127 for three. Whether he can repeat that effort on the opening day when the Sri Lankans meet the All Stars in a preliminary match will be a mouth-watering prospect.

"That should be something worth going a long way to watch, Jayasuriya up against his own country," Ratnayake said.

Sri Lanka are drawn with the All Stars, Australia and Hong Kong in the preliminaries. The other group comprises India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

Hong Kong Sixes | Sanath Jayasuriya delighted to be playing in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Sanath Jayasuriya will showcase his devastating batting skills at next month’s Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. The Sri Lankan ace – one of the most lethal hitters in the game – has been confirmed for the showpiece at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 8-9 November.

He will join an awesome All-Stars team that already contains test greats Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming and Matthew Hoggard.

“I'm delighted to be playing in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and I'm looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic weekend at the Kowloon Cricket Club,” said Jayasuriya.

“It will be great to team up with guys like Shiv, Justin, Stephen and Matthew, who have been my friends and respected opponents for many years in test and one day cricket, and hopefully we can put on a fantastic show for the fans.”

Jayasuriya, 39, is one of the true greats of the modern game, having racked up an astonishing 27 hundreds and 66 fifties in 421 one day internationals (ODIs).

Yet the left-hander has also enjoyed a stellar test career, scoring 14 hundreds and 31 fifties in 110 matches.

In addition, he is an extremely effective spin bowler with 310 ODI wickets and 98 test wickets to his name.

Jayasuriya revolutionised ODI batting with his aggressive tactics at the 1996 World Cup, taking advantage of fielding restrictions early in the innings by smashing the opening bowlers to all parts of the ground.

He was named Player of the Tournament as Sri Lanka lifted the trophy.

He retired from international cricket in 2006 but quickly reversed his decision. He quit tests again at the end of last year but continues to feature in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad.

The All-Stars have been pooled with defending champions Sri Lanka in the Sobers Group, meaning Jayasuriya will face a meeting with his countrymen on day one of the tournament.

“I'm especially anticipating our match against Sri Lanka on Saturday afternoon – that will be an interesting experience and a lot of fun also, I'm sure,” he said.

“The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes has a great reputation among players and I'm really keen to join in the action.”

Sixes tournament director Mark Burns predicted Jayasuriya would be a huge hit in Hong Kong.

“Sanath Jayasuriya is a thrilling player to watch – one of the most brutal strikers of a ball the sport has seen,” said Burns.

“I’m sure Hong Kong fans are going to relish the chance to see this great batsman in action. We can expect some fireworks from him.

”Ticket sales have been very strong since they went on sale two weeks ago and we expect this to continue, especially now that Jayasuriya has been confirmed.”

Australia and hosts Hong Kong are the remaining two teams in the Sobers Group while the Bradman Group will be contested by India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

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Tickets for the 2008 Sixes – priced at $780 for adults and $450 for children – are on sale at the following locations:

· China Cricket International, Sheung Wan (Tel: 2543 8500)

· Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Central (Tel: 2810 6988)

· Hong Kong Cricket Club, Happy Valley (Tel: 3511 8668)

· Kowloon Cricket Club, Jordan (Tel: 2376 4141)

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is fully sanctioned by the ICC and is the sport's longest-running, best-established and most high-profile sixes tournament.

Players who have taken part over the past 16 years include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram.

The tournament is organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s commercial arm, China Cricket International Limited.

The HKCA’s proceeds from the Sixes will be ploughed directly back into cricket development in Hong Kong.

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Fast Hitting | Sri Lanka ace Sanath Jayasuriya confirmed for Hong Kong Sixes

HONG KONG, October 24, 2008

Big hitting Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has been confirmed for the annual Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament, organisers said Friday.

The former 1996 Cricket World Cup winner will join an All Star team that includes West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Australian Justin Langer, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and English swing bowler Matthew Hoggard.

Jayasuriya, 39, has since retired from a test career in which he notched up 14 centuries and 31 fifties in 110 matches, taking 98 wickets.

He continues to feature in Sri Lanka's one-day squad, where he has scored 27 centuries and 66 fifties in 421 one-day games, taking 310 wickets.

Australia and hosts Hong Kong are the remaining two teams in the Sobers Group while the Bradman Group will be contested by India, Pakistan, England and South Africa.

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes are scheduled from November 8-9,2008