Jayasuriya holds a special place in the hearts and minds of cricket fans the world over, never mind those of us in Sri Lanka. From 1995, his exploits with the bat are stuff of legend. The memories are many: his assault on the English bowling attack in the 1996 World Cup Quarter Final, the dismantling of Manoj Prabakar in the qualifying rounds of the same tournament - a thrashing that so visibly upset Prabakar that he retired soon after, the fastest century in ODI when he repeatedly sent Amir Sohail’s deliveries out of that tiny Singapore park before repeating it a few days afterwards and securing the record for the fastest half century, the 340 at the Premadasa and 199 in the very next match, the 155 against India at the India Independence Cup, the double hundred at the oval in 1998, the 189 in Sharjah when he made an international calibre bowling attack resemble a club side, the almost ludicrous assault on Steve Harmison and co at Headingly last year chasing a stiff English target.
Many memories, but the one that I’ll remember to my last breadth is the upper cut that went for six over Point in that one off test match against England in 1998. Sri Lanka required 48 to win in the dying moments of the fifth day. Alec Stewart instructed his bowlers to bowl down the leg side, making run scoring difficult for the batsmen in the hope that they could secure a draw. Ben Hollioke bowled a bouncer way outside off stump. Conventional wisdom would dictate that a batsman leave the ball well alone. Jayasuriya, instead, leapt in the air and upper cut it. The ball was next seen amid the spectators seated behind the Deep Point boundary. That image of both his feet in the air and that ferocious upper cut will forever be embedded in my mind.
Thanks for the many memories, Sanath. I am sure you’ll leave a few more with what remains of your ODI career.
Read Mukul Kesavan’s lovely tribute to Sanath here.
9 Comments
December 7, 2007 at 4:52 am
I find consolation in the fact that he will continue to play ODI cricket. That’s what he is most remembered for and thats where he’s been the most destructive.
December 7, 2007 at 7:39 am
Good post Theena,
There isnt much left to say about Sanath. The guy singlehandedly revolutionized batting. Maybe guys like Greatbatch did the odd bit of pinch hitting in the 92 WC but he dint change the face of cricket like Sanath did.
I hope he plays on for a few more years in the ODIs. Hopefully he sends the Aussies packing this Jan.
December 7, 2007 at 10:38 am
Bit off topic but guess what Theena, Squads unchanged !! Muba still in it lol. Only change is Upul for Sanath haha !
December 8, 2007 at 12:29 pm
i cant forget the way he used to leg glance!
January 11, 2008 at 10:11 am
no limit texas holdem poker tables
selectively restrictively parters puncturing,Gretchen
April 1, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Theena,
Hope you caught my recent video of Sanath 253 Vs Pakistan in Faisalabad 2004.
April 2, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hilal,
Meant to watch it but I’ve been having issues with my broadband connection at home, pretty much ruling out YouTube at home. The site is blocked at work too. Sucks.
I’ll watch it as soon as I am able to and comment
April 14, 2008 at 8:40 am
Hey Theena if accessing youtube is the issue subscribe to my RSS feed or email newsletter. At times I offer a download link on my vids you can download them instead of watching it on youtube eh?
April 14, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hey Hilal,
I can view YouTube videos now. The problem with my connection lasted around a week or so, but has of late been rectified. I’ll let you know if there are problems though.
Thanks
Leave a Reply