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Recently I saw an interview with Sanath Jayasuriya where a Papare.com journalist asking him, who he thought was the better batsman. Aravinda De Silva or Kumar Sangakkara? This put Sanath on the spot and he was hesitant at first to answer. He has played with both Greats and it would have been awkward to name one. However at the end of the clip, I believe he gave an honest answer that someone who knew cricket inside out would give. This made me go down memory lane to think who would be Sri Lanka’s best batsman ever produced.
If we look at the records on cricinfo, there is no doubt Sanga has the best stats. 12,400 runs in 233 innings at an average of 57.40 which includes 11 double hundreds. This record puts Sachin Teldulkar in the shade if you look at the averages. But if we not look at only records and go in to more detail about the abilities of batsmen who have worn the Sri Lanka T-shirt will it still be Sanga?
Sri Lanka has produced many great batsmen in yesteryears. Roy Dias was said to be the one to bat at number 3 in the great West Indian side of Sir Viv Richards. Anura Ranasinghe was a wizard with bat in hand. Sathasivam was rumored to roam the night clubs till morning and go out and get a hundred before lunch. Unfortunately these players did not play in the modern era. I am sure they were equally talented and capable as the ones we see now, but there is no yardstick to compare.
In modern day cricket, guys that come to mind are Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, T.M. Dilshan, Marvan Atapattu, and Aravinda De Silva.
Marvan Atapattu, had a very bad start to his career, he got 3 ducks in his first 3 innings if my memory serves me right. Marvan was probably the most technically correct batsman ever to play for Sri Lanka. He would have been lost to the world if the selectors didn’t give him a few more chances. A nervous starter finally got his hold on the crease and showed the country and the rest of the world what a beauty it was to watch him at full swing. He was a naturally correct and beautiful batsman. A little slow starter, but once he had got his eye in he could score as fast as any other attacking batsman. He went on to captain Sri Lanka and still remains one of the most elegant batsmen we have produced.
T.M Dilshan on the other hand was probably one of the most technically incorrect batsmen. But his hand eye coordination was impeccable and could hit the ball as hard as any other player ever to play the game. He could get a quick 40 to 60 runs and completely change the context of the game. This he could have done on dry wickets of India or the bouncy flyers at Perth. He didn’t show any respect towards the bowlers when he was in full swing. The Dilscoop which he invented is almost signing a death warrant if you missed, yet I have never seen him miss. Although Dilshan was a match winner, he often missed the spark at important times that would get the spectators glued to the television or talk about his innings years later. He was a man in his time, and he did make most of it for his country Sri Lanka.
Sanath Jayasuriya is arguably one of the greatest all rounders the game has ever seen. Started off as a number 7 or 8 batsman who would bowl a bit of left arm spin. His batting was expected to get a quick 30 – 40 runs at the depth and his bowling was expected to stop the scoring during the middle overs. With Dave Whatmore’s daring tactics during the 95/96 season Sanath was promoted up the order to open batting. This changed the whole context of one day cricket. Sanath and his opening partner Kaluwitharana destroyed bowling attacks right from the word “play” Sanath went on to play the game for well over one and a half decades for Sri Lanka and captained the country in both formats of the game. Sanath adjusted to opening the batting at test match level also and made valuable contributions to the team. His efforts in the 1996 World Cup are unforgettable which won him the man of the series title, along with an Audi A4. Probably the first time most Sri Lankans heard the car name “Audi” Sanath in his career has amassed over 20,000 runs and 400 wickets in both formats of the game. There is no Sri Lankan who has surpassed this feat, and is only second to Great Jaques Kallis of South Africa. Sanath brought in a different thinking to batting, and this caught on like wild fire with Gilchrist, Hayden, Afridi, et al, however it was Sanath who introduced the explosive batting to the world, which we see today.
Mahela Jayawardene was a gifted player. Ever since he made his debut at Nalanda College he was tipped to play for Sri Lanka. He was the shadow to Arjuna Ranathunga the prodigal son who would go on to captain Sri Lanka and take the country to greater heights. Mahela was a brilliant batsman with a lot of flare. He is also said to be a very good team man. Mahela was the first Sri Lankan batsman to go pass 10,000 test runs at an average of 49.84. Mahela also remains the highest individual scorer of an innings for Sri Lanka with the 374 he scored against South Africa. This is also the highest score by a right handed batsman in the world. Mahela was a reliable batsman who would get a team out of trouble. There has been many times, where it all seems lost for Sri Lanka and then Mahela coming to the rescue. Mahela is the only batsman to score 100 in a World Cup final and end up in the losing team. The 100 he got in Mumbai at the Wankade stadium at the World Cup final was against all odds. Mahela had a ver ordinary World Cup, so much so that he was almost opting to stay out of the final. However his knock in the final proved you can keep class quiet for too long.
Kumar Sangakkara on the other hand was a very hard working player. Limited in talent compared to folks like Mahela and Sanath Kumar believed in hard work, Patience and perseverance. Kumar along with his sister Saranga was known for their Tennis more than their cricket during their school days. Kumar also did not have a free pass in to the Sri Lanka team like Mahela did straight after school. Kumar had to work hard at NCC and prove his value to the team to get a selection. Sanga started off as a wicket keeper batsman. He was not known for his keeping abilities in the beginning but was played for his batting. The great character of Sanga is how hard he worked on his game. Coming from very average background, today he boasts of the best figures in Test and one day cricket for Sri Lanka. His temperament was phenomenal. This is proven in the many double hundreds he has got. If you compare Sanga and Sachin’s figures, Sanga would have surpassed Sachin by many miles if he had the longevity of Sachin. Sanga achieved greatness in a shorter period of time and did that in style. Sanga was also a very outspoken player on the field, he commanded the language way better than some of the players who’s mother tongue was English. He was one player who could give it back to the cynical Aussies. Sanga along with Mahela played in some of the best years of Sri Lankan cricket. Got in to many finals during their time, but only managed to win the T-20. Sanga was a rock solid player at number 3 or 4, as good as anyone in the world who played the game.
The list is not complete if we don’t add Aravinda De Silva. To me the best batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced is Aravinda. As kids watching Aravinda bat was like magic. My best memories of Aravinda comes from the 1996 World Cup. Maybe Sri Lanka winning the World Cup might have this affect in our generation. As teenagers when Aravinda went into bat it was exciting. We knew something was going to happen. Aravinda had a great run with Sri Lanka and in particular in the 96 World Cup. He held the entire batting together. Aravinda went on to score a 100 in the World Cup final in Lahore in Pakistan. But to me his greatest innings came in the semi finals. Sri Lanka was playing India in Calcutta. The Eden Gardens. Biggest cricketing venue after the MCG. Over 110,000 fans cheering against Sri Lanka, and being put into bat Sri Lanka was 2-2. Both Sanath and Kalu back in the pavilion. Out walks Aravinda De Silva. He didn’t show any sort of emotion or pressure. He just batted as if he was playing soft ball cricket down his lane in Rathmalana. The noise was unbearable when we were 2-2 and slowly but steadily Aravinda managed to quieten the crowd down. He batted brilliantly for 66 in 47 balls and helped Sri Lanka get to a decent score of 251/8 Then came the final where we ha dot play the mighty Aussies. Earlier in the tournament Aussies refused to come to Sri Lanka sighting terrorist threats. But the major reason was this was soon after the controversial no balling of Murali in Australia. It was almost Karma for the Aussies to meet Sri Lanka in the final and lose to them in Lahore. Aravinda once again batted brilliantly to get a 100 in the final. Aravinda had many accusations of being too easy going and throwing his wicket away. But in the finals he showed what a responsible cricketer he can be. He just took the Aussie bowling apart. McGrath, Gillispe, Warne didn’t know where to bowl to him. Aravinda made sure we got across the line, and didn’t leave it to anyone else to do it. Finally it was fitting finish, where Arjuna scored the final winning runs with Aravinda on the other side of the wicket. The two architects of Sri Lanka. The two people who put Sri Lankan cricket in the world map.
One more incident that brings to mind of Aravinda is in the backdrop of a disastrous tour Sri Lanka was playing Australia. Aravinda had toured with the team and had a very bad outing. Aravinda had opted to stay out from the team to which the team manager had passed an insulting remark on him. Finally Aravinda played that game and batted way down in the order. The game was dead and over when Australia had scored 317 and Sri Lanka was 177/7 in the 42nd over. Aravinda was facing Brett Lee. Brett Lee was at his peak and was consistently bowling 145+ during the time. Aravinda past his hay day takes on Brett Lee and hits him for 2 sixes in the over. One over mid wicket and the second over mid on. Famous commentator Tony Greig’s words were, it came at 140+ and left the bat at 170+ It was Aravinda’s pure genius that could do this.
With utmost respect to Sanga and Mahela who’s records speak for themselves, it is pure brilliance and uncanniness of Aravinda that stands him out from the rest of the pack. We hope to see another Aravinda, Sanga, Mahela, Sanath, Marvan or a Dilshan in the team soon. I don’t think its a lack of talent in the country, just that the system is in a complete mess. We will talk about that on another day. Until then, cheers to all our heroes who played the game so passionately for our Country!
