Sanath’s has been an unbelievable story - Mahela Jayawardene

With 9,120 runs in Tests and 8,702 in ODIs, Mahela Jayawardene is pretty qualified to talk about the two batsmen who’ve recently completed 20 years at the international level — Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya.

He has, in fact, been in the same dressing room with one and competed against the other.

Over breakfast at the Mount View Hotel, on Saturday, Jayawardene (a former national captain) spoke to The Telegraph on the giants. Sanath has, of course, retired from Test cricket.

For the record, Jayawardene has himself been around, at the highest level, for 13 years. In the ongoing IPL, he’s turning out for the Kings XI Punjab, captained by his Sri Lanka successor Kumar Sangakkara.

The following are excerpts

Thoughts on Sachin (36) and Sanath (40): Their records do all the talking... I don’t have to speak about the quality of their achievements, the world knows everything... What stands out is that they’ve been around for 20 years... To sustain the intensity for such a long period is amazing... They’ve been disciplined, they’ve been committed and they’ve been passionate. They’ve shown all the qualities of a champion sportsman.

On Sanath: He’s one of those unbelievable stories... Sanath emerged from a region (Matara) which hadn’t produced a really big name, came to Colombo and went about proving a point... Nobody before him came from way down south with such ambitions... Sanath established himself at a time our cricket was turning a page, getting away from the traditional way of playing the game... After the 1996 World Cup, thanks to the way Sanath and (Romesh) Kaluwitharana went about the first 15 overs, teams had to change strategy... Sanath didn’t change his game, rather every opposition had to plot differently... He helped us build our identity and didn’t listen to those who wanted him to change his approach... He had the confidence to deliver on his terms.

Sanath’s USP: Fitness, confidence... We aren’t surprised that Sanath has decided to contest the upcoming Parliamentary elections... He has, after all, the aura... This is a new challenge for him and he’s bound to be supremely confident... Sanath believes he can do anything and, who knows, may one day become Sri Lanka’s President! It’s difficult to stop somebody with such self-belief and so much confidence. Sanath has achieved everything in cricket, now he has set himself a different goal...

[In 110 Tests, Sanath finished with 6,973 runs and 14 hundreds; in 444 ODIs, he has 13,428 runs with 28 hundreds.]

On there being much to learn from Sachin and Sanath

Yes... Commitment, discipline and confidence... Both have been tops in commitment, have been most disciplined and have always been supremely confident... They’ve believed in a certain way of doing things and have backed themselves... Those with big dreams need to emulate what I’ve listed. Clearly, you can’t have better role models.

Finally, if he had a son, whether he would make him bat like Sachin or Sanath

(Laughs) No... I’ll tell you why... I believe it’s important to have your own identity. Sure, if I had a son, I’d like him to look up to Sachin and Sanath, but I’d also most definitely like him to be himself... To carve his own identity... If you try copying others, there’s every chance you could lose your way... Draw inspiration, but be yourself... Build on your identity... That, for me, is the only way forward...

(Source)

Unity is our team strength - Sanath Jayasuriya | Mauler's Notes IPL 2010

 

- SANATH JAYASURIYA

OUR seven-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers on Saturday night was obviously disappointing, but we just have to dust ourselves down, learn what we can from the loss and focus on our next challenge: a very tough game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.

The beauty about this Mumbai Indians team is that we are very close. It’s like a family this year with everyone united. We are all supporting each other and we’re all focused on the team’s goals. That is very important when you are playing in a competition like this.

The big turning point in our defeat to the Royal Challengers was that disastrous 11th over of the innings when we lost Rayudu, Sachin and Bravo, slumping from 74 for three to 76 for six. We’d also struggled a little bit at the start of the innings with me departing early. So it was a shame that I could not stay with Sachin and build a big opening partnership.

Sanath knows what is good for him - Robin Singh

The poor form of Sanath Jayasuriya notwithstanding, Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh today threw his weight behind the Sri Lankan and said he would soon bounce back and rediscover the lost rythm.

"Sanath is a seasoned cricketer and he knows what is best for him. It is a question of getting him motivated to play his role," Singh told reporters ahead of encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders here tomorrow.

The Matara marauder has got out cheaply scoring 23, 7 and 2 in his team's previous three matches.

Terming the shot selection of the batsmen against Royal Challengers Bangalore as bad, Singh hoped that the team will be more careful with the choice of their shots in the next game.

"I think we were just bad. I hope the guys will be more focused and probably be more careful about shot selection," he said.
Asked whether the team had any plans for Chris Gayle, Singh said, "Not really thought about it, we are just focusing on what we want to do and what team we want to play."

"(It) hardly matters (how big a hitter Gayle is). There are many big hitters in the tournament," he added.

(Source)

Jayasuriya, Maharoof among probables for T20 World Cup

All rounders Sanath Jayasuriya and Farveez Maharoof have made a return to the Sri Lanka squad after a long lapse as national cricket selectors named a 30-member probable squad for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup starting in West Indies on April 30.

Star player Maharoof was not considered for selection for nearly one and a half years due to injuries that plagued him constantly.

But the most noteworthy is the inclusion of veteran Jayasuriya who has found some of his old magic both with the bat and the ball in the current inter provincial T20 tournament.

The 40-year old legend who is contesting the forthcoming April 8 General Election under the ruling People’s Alliance from the Matara District will be an automatic choice for the opener’s slot on his present form and will partner Tillekratne Dilshan at the top of the batting order, sources said.

Jayasuriya suffered a set back in his international form in recent times and was dropped from the Sri Lanka ODI team for the last two tours.

If Jayasuriya gets elected to the parliament, the T20 World Cup will be his first historic international cricket tour as an Member of Parliament (MP).

National selectors had picked the 30 probables three weeks ago and the squad had reportedly been sent to the ICC.

Sri Lanka finished runners up to Pakistan at last year’s T20 World Cup in England and this has prompted selectors to pick T20 specialists and all rounders for this year’s squad, sources said.

Selectors had wanted to include a few big hitters with the capability of hitting sixes in the late order to bat through the last few overs of the innings.

After picking the 30-probables, selectors have further pruned down the squad this week to 25 in consultation with skipper Kumar Sangakkara and coach Trevor Bayliss. They have kept pace bowler Dilhara Fernando, but had discussed at length about his erratic form.

Selectors will meet up once again next week after this Sunday’s Inter Provincial T20 tournament final to pick the final 15-member squad for the World Cup.

Jayasuriya not first, but questions galore

Sanath Jayasuriya is not the first cricketer to enter into politics while still playing. The former England captain Ted Dexter continued playing for the country having contested for the Conservatives, and losing, in the UK general election in 1964.

And the legendry England cricketer, footballer and holder of world long-jump record C. B. Fry stood, unsuccessfully, for the Liberal Party three times.

But Jayasuriya, who holds many cricket world records may be on his way to creating another one. He will be the only cricketer ever to have played international cricket while being an MP.

Jayasuriya's decision to run in April's parliamentary elections has also created fresh controversy in the cricket loving nation.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Gamini Lokuge, told the BBC Sinhala service that even every member of the national cricket team has a right to be a parliamentarian while playing international cricket.

"We are not concerned whether they are parliamentarians or not. If they are qualified and still playing cricket, they all have the opportunity to play for the country."

"They all can be MPs but they should attend practice sessions and obey the rules of the game," he adds.

Jayasuriya who had retired from Test cricket said he would continue playing one-day internationals (ODIs) representing Sri Lanka and in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Since I am not playing Test Cricket, I will have enough time for politics," he said.

Speaking to the BBC Tamil service Jayasuriya said: "I have already campaigned for the president in the last elections. He requested me to contest this election."

Sri Lanka's former Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga said about Jayasuriya’s decision to enter politics while still playing. "Jayasuriya is in the last stages of his career and we know very well that he currently holds no permanent place in the team”."Jayasuriya has indicated that he would continue to play until the 2011 World Cup, so as he has currently no permanent place, perhaps he might be trying to use his political influence to get a permanent place in the team, " says Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka's only woman Olympic medallist, Susanthika Jayasinghe, is another sports personality contesting the parliamentary election.

Jayasinghe claimed that she was invited to enter into politics a few years ago but she refused.

"Then I could not chose one political party over another as I was representing my motherland and I needed everybody's blessings for that journey," she said.

Legal experts say there is nothing in the law to prevent sports personalities from contesting elections while playing for the country.

But a former chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises, Wijedasa Rajapaksa, PC, said it was "unfortunate" that Jayasuriya had decided to break a long-standing tradition of sports personalities not being involved in politics while still active in sport.

Some critics also say the sports minister's decision to support Jayasuriya appears to contradict some of the choices he has made in the past.

They point to the time when the minister rejected a proposal by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to appoint former Test captain Hashan Thilakaratne, currently an opposition politician, as the manager of the team.

"The same minister then rejected Hashan's nomination saying he should either chose sports or politics," says Arjuna Ranathunga, who was the then president of the SLC.

Minister Lokuge says he still holds the same view regarding the issue.

"Jaysuriya is a player but Thilakratne was to be appointed as the manager who controls the team. If we appoint a politician as the manager of the national cricket team, he might have been biased towards one political party," he says.

“The apparent duplicity in authorities' views is an indication of the direction the country is heading in”, said Wijedasa Rajapaka.

"If Jayasuriya was to contest from an opposition political party while playing for the country, he would have been shown the door from the team on the same day. This is the reality in Sri Lanka.", said Rajapaksa.

Sanath Jayasuriya takes flak after entering politics

Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya came under fire today for his decision to enter politics while still playing for the national team.

Jayasuriya will contest April 8 parliamentary elections as a candidate for President Mahinda Rajapakse's Freedom Alliance party in his home constituency of Matara.

The 40 year-old, the oldest cricketer still playing at the top level in the world, retired from Test cricket in 2007 but has vowed to continue his international career in the shorter forms of the game.

"His career is waning. He has set a bad precedent by entering politics before retiring completely from cricket," said Arjuna Ranatunga, the 1996 World Cup winning skipper, who took to politics only after he quit the game.

Jayasuriya, Mahela at Reebok store launch, New Delhi 2009

Sanath Jayasuriya & Mahela Jayawardene were spotted in New Delhi during Reebok concept store launch on December 26, 2009.

Best of Luck, Sanath - You served cricket – Dedicate yourself to serve the country

"From the age of nine years, he used to play tennis ball cricket with the neighbouring children. This became a problem for me, as this child used to rocket the ball and deposit it in the adjoining Temple premises, by hoisting "sixers". The kind hearted Nayaka Thera, tolerated all this. I thought that it is not proper to disturb the Nayaka Hamuduruwo. So, I sent him for Under-11 cricket practices at St. Xervatius College."

These sentiments were expressed sometime back to me by Mrs. Breeda Jayasuriya, the beloved mother of Sanath Tehran Jayasuriya.

The tiny tot, Sanath, who deposited "sixers" at the Temple premises then, presently holds the One Day International world record for sixers by recording 270 sixers during his career, at all the world famous international cricket arenas, playing in 444 matches, and 432 innings. He collected 13,328 runs and remained unbeaten on 18 occasions. His highest ODI score is 189. He has an average of 32.43 and a strike rate of 91.22, with 28 centuries and 68 half centuries with 1500 hits to the ropes. As an outstanding fielder, he has held 123 catches in this ‘Cow-Boy Game’.



In his Test cricket career, Sanath whacked 59 sixers, and 910 boundaries. He played in 110 Tests, and in 188 innings, he remained unbeaten 14 times, collected 6973 runs. His highest score was 340. I had the fortune of commentating during this record-breaking innings at the R. Premadasa Stadium in 1997.

He made 14 centuries and 31 half centuries in his his Test career. Further, he held 78 catches.

He bowled 8188 balls, gave away 3366 runs and captured 98 wickets in his Test career. Further, in his ODI career, he bowled 14,838 balls, gave away 11,825 runs and captured 322 wickets.

I always highly appreciated his sterling, charming qualities and his fighting spirit. I have been following his unique and epic career right throughout. For a moment, I think cricket is a ‘Sansaragatha Puruddak’ in the sojourn of ‘Samsara’. He is undoubtedly a born cricketer. He is the most feared batsmen in the world - he mauled many bowlers in the world.

Today, Matara and Sanath Jayasuriya is synonymous, inseperable. It’s like treacle and honey of Ruhuna.

I always witnessed leadership qualities in him. He always put country before self. He is a simple, unassuming village lad. He respects his parents, teachers and elders and is very religious. In fact, his ‘Pirith Noola’ symbolises Buddhism and culture and his firm belief.

Sanath took up the captaincy in 1999 after the ‘Arjuna Ranatunga debacle’ at the World Cup 1999 in England. Sanath was never a haughty or head-strong character. He is loved by everyone.

Today, he has entered into a new lane - politics. He is contesting from the Matara District. I am positive that he will maul his opponents in his own inimitable style. He is quite capable of doing it.

I must congratulate His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for nominating him and giving an opportunity to Sanath to contest from his home base of Matara. This village lad will always remember his roots and he will always put country before self.

My memory goes back to 9th March 1996, when I commentated from Faisalabad on the England-Sri Lanka World Cup quarter final. I really enjoyed the swashbuckling innings of Sanath Jayasuriya. He blasted the Englishmen and scored 82 blistering runs in just 44 balls. For a moment, I felt sorry for the English attack. They looked liked merely pedestrians. The 100,000 spectators who watched this encounter at Faisalabad will forever remember this ‘massacre’.

Probably, Sanath Jayasuriya will play his normal game on 8th April 2010, and the grateful people of Matara District, will make Sanath - Man of the Match in this great battle, and strengthen the hands of our President, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa.

I draw your attention to a ‘box story’ carried on 10th March 1996 in Pakistan’s English daily - Dawn. The headline read; ‘Has Sanath fixed a spring inside his magical bat?" The writer of Dawn translated this story from an Urudu Daily ‘Jung’. The way that Sanath pummelled the English attack at Faisalabad was unbelievable. The poor Englishmen would have thought for a moment, why on earth did we introduce cricket to Ceylon in the good old days.

In presume, Sanath in his new game will maul and thrash his opponents right royally. For many of his opponents, Sanath’s ‘innings’ at his pocket burrow - Matara, on April 8th, will be their swan song.

One of the innings that is etched in my memory is the one he played against India, at Kotla. In that match Sanath scored 79 runs, at almost a run a ball. What was the outcome of this match? At the conclusion of the World Cup 1996, the Indian opening bowler, who was really blasted by Sanath Jayasuriya, gave up his cricket career. It was Jayasuriya who pushed the Indian opening bowler Manoj Prabhakar to Indian politics.

At the conclusion of the World Cup 1996, Sanath jayasuriya earned the title ‘Most Valuable Player’. Don’t be surprised, if after the conclusion of ‘2010 battle’, Sanath will earn another title - ‘Man of the Match - Matara District’.

I still remember, his 111 against New Zealand in Napier, Maclean Park, when he associated with Upul Tharanga, another Southerner, in the ODI series in New Zealand. In this match, they were associated in a partnership of over 200 runs for the first wicket and Sanath’s contribution was 111 runs with five sixers and 14 hits to the ropes.

He made his Test debut against New Zealand in Hamilton on February 22 in 1991. His last Test was against England at Kandy from December 1-5, in 2009.

I commentated when he scored his epic 300 plus against India played at R. Premadasa Stadium in 1997.

Born on June 30, 1969, in Kotuwegoda, Matara, his beloved parents are Dunstan Jayasuriya and Breeda Jayasuriya. His elder brother is Chandana Srinath Jayasuriya. He learned his basics in cricket from Lionel Wagasinghe and Gratien Liyanage. The then Principal at St. Servatius, Mr. Galappati and the staff-members, old-boys and well-wishes were a tower of inspiration to Sanath Jayasuriya.

The major teams Sanath has represented are - Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Bloomfield C and AC, Colombo Cricket Club, Dolphins, MCC, Mumbai Indians, Ruhuna and Somerset. He is a left-hand bat and slow left arm orthodox bowler.

In 1996, Sri Lanka did not annex the Wills World Cup on 17 March 1996 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan, purely because of the ‘Matara Mauler’, ‘Master Blaster’, unassuming southerner Sanath jayasuriya. But I am positive that they could not have lifted the Trophy without Jayasuriya and that great all-rounder and batting artist, Aravinda De Silva, who scored 107 n.o. No doubt, it was a brilliant team effort.

The gentle Sanath Jayasuriya, although he has harmed many international bowlers of repute, is a perfectionist. He takes up challenges and is committed to his job. He spends many hours in the gymnasium and he is as fit as a fiddle.

Once Shane Warne said that his hand was so strong that "his handshake could crush a walnut."

Sanath not only turned ODI cricket up side down. He also opened the gates to outstation cricketing talents of Sri Lanka to blossom. He was never jealous and never had private agendas. He always gave opportunities to deserving cricketers.

Some day when the cricket chronicle of Sri Lanka is written, his name will be written in Gold as the man who crushed the so-called ‘Colombo elite schools’. His leadership was democratic. Jayasuriya served commendably, as Sri Lanka’s cricket captain after Arjuna Ranatunga was sacked in 1999 and Sanath Jayasuriya built a happy and united team.

He had the distinction of producing the fastest century and fifty. Singapore was the scene. Sanath broke the record for the fastest ODI century and fifty within six days.

Married to Sandra, that charming epitome of womanhood, they are blessed with sweet daughters, Savindi, Yalindi and son Ranuk. Sanath’s wife Sandra is the wind behind this cricketer turned politician.

Sanath - Obata, Ratata, Suba Anagathayak!

Jayasuriya, Tharanga star in Ruhuna's crushing win

Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya at Olam Cup 2010, Singapore 

(Photographer: Critically Cricket)

The former national opening pair of Upul Tharanga 83 not out and Sanath Jayasuriya 53 put up a fireworks display for Ruhunu Province to defeat Sri La Cricket Combined XI by nine wickets in the Inter Provincial Twenty20 cricket tournament match played at Lake View grounds, Kandy yesterday.

Left handed Sanath Jayasuriya smashed quick 53 in just 21 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes while Upul Tharanga made his runs in just 58 balls hitting 3 sixes and 9 fours. They together put on 81 for the first wicket, Dinesh Chandimal too batted well to score 42 not out with 1 four and 3 sixes off 36 balls.

For SLC Combined XI Kithruwan Withanage was in full cry and tore into the Wayamba attack by scoring an aggressive 62 not out with 6 sixes and 3 fours in only 30 balls.

SLC Combined XI 179 for 5 in 20 overs (Achira Eranga 22, Hans Fernando 66, Bhanuka Rajapakse 20, Kithruwan Withanage 62 not out, Tharanga Lakshitha 2 for 29, Sajeewa Weerakoon 1 for 14, Sachithra Senanayake 1 for 20, T .M. Sampath 1 for 4.

Ruhunu Province 181 for 1 in 18 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 53, Upul Tharanga 83 not out, Dinesh Chandimal 42 not out )

Jayasuriya is my preferred opening partner - Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan and wife actress Manjula Thilini were on a Sinhalese language talk show on Swaranavahini this past Sunday. It was an interesting show with several questions thrown at them both, but it was Dilshan's response when asked who he would like to open batting with, that really drew me into the interview.

Although Upul Tharanga has been Dilshan's opening partner of late, Dilshan told the presenters of the show that he preferred opening with Sanath.

When Sanath Jayasuriya made public his decision to enter politics, the Sri Lankan fans were immediately divided. Even Sanath's long time fans found it unpalatable. There were those who claimed it was a dirty trick by a selfish player to try and get back into the team. This is of course if you thought he was out of the team.

Sanath has been an important cog in Sri Lanka's Twenty20 team and the ODI team since his retirement from Test cricket. He was sent down the order during Sri Lanka's tour to India in late 2009, and due to a loss of form he was not selected for a tri-series in Bangladesh. But, that never meant Sanath was out of the picture, or that he needed to become a politician to get back into the ODI side. Don't forget he has not lost his place as opener in the Twenty20 side. Therefore, his performances in Twenty20s for Sri Lanka, and the fact that he is still a contracted player, means that he is just a knock away from selection.

Dilshan didn't mince his words, he told the talk show hosts on Sunday morning that he felt a great degree of confidence just seeing Jayasuriya at the other end. But fans will never get it. When you are a professional athlete trying to win games, words like the "future," "youth," and "giving youngster a chance," all become non-relevant words.

Every player wants to win and they want match winners in their team. In a player's eyes, the youth can work their way up just as hard as all the seniors did. Players themselves feel that if you are good enough you will make it, and Sanath isn't holding anyone back.

Due to his age Sanath Jayasuriya has always been the first name on the chopping block, every time we loose we think that changing the team and sending inexperienced youth into the firing line is the answer.

Sure, Jayasuriya's move to enter politics is ridiculous. But that's his call. Everyone one of us is entitled to make our own mistakes.

Those who are crying foul at Jayasuriya's entry into politics usually don't see eye to eye with the ruling party, so they continue to tarnish the legend's reputation. The misguided think that Sanath is trying to make his way back into the team.

For Sanath, this uncertainty and criticism has been part and parcel of his career.

Dilshan relishes brief stint with Northern Districts' Knights

When asked about his stint with New Zealand's Northern Districts, and how it felt to be flown into the venue by helicopter moments before a match, Dilshan said it was an outstanding experience and the treatment he received by the Knights gave him a lot of confidence and reinforced his own belief in his abilities.

(Article by gavin at Island Cricket)