Slcricket

kumara Sangakkara

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owling style:

layed for:

Asia XI, I

Kumar Sangakkara is the most influential and talented cricketer in Sri Lankan cricket. His arrival was relatively unexpected as his domestic performances were rather modest. The selectors’ judgment was warranted and within few months of his international debut, the southpaw was the most talked about player in the cricket arena. He is a gifted strokemaker with plenty of class and caliber in him. Behind the stumps, he is a slick wicket-keeper and a sharp-tongued sledger. A charismatic personality and a smart thinker, Sangakkara’s presence on the field has helped Sri Lanka win many encounters. In 2007, he became the first batsman ever to make single innings scores of a 150 plus in four consecutive test matches. His approach is naturally aggressive and his biggest weakness is a capacity to react excessively when the adrenaline really starts to propel.

Sanath Jayasuriya

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One of the clean strikers of the ball, Sanath Jayasuriya is a legend of Sri Lankan cricket. He revolutionized the way one-day cricket was played with his hard-hitting in the first 15 overs. His attitude towards batting is summed up by an all-aggression approach and over the years he has had the better of almost every one day bowling combination that he has faced at one stage or another. His claim to fame came during the 1996 World Cup where he was named player of the tournament. He held the record for the highest score in Test cricket for Sri Lanka before Jayawardena broke it in 2006. Being a slow left-arm bowler, Jayasuriya has proven himself handy with the ball with more than 300 wickets in ODIs. The 'Matara Mauler' retired from Test cricket in 2007 and was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997.

Mahela Jayawardena

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Jayawardene made his Test debut in the record breaking Test in 1997 against India at Colombo. He added 66 to their first innings score of 952/6, the highest ever Test score till date. Mahela’s entry into the international arena signaled the arrival of a new era in Sri Lankan cricket. Early on in his career he scored 167 against New Zealand and 242 against India. With a fine temperament and an excellent technique, Jayawardena is capable of playing long innings. He gave an example of that when he became the first Sri-Lankan captain to score a Test triple-century which came against the Proteas at the SSC in Colombo. He has displayed great leadership skills by guiding his side to the final of 2007 World Cup in Caribbean. Mahela was honoured by the ICC as the best international captain in 2006. Sri Lanka will aim for further glory under the reign of Mahela Jaywardena.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

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Tillakaratne Dilshan is a street-smart cricketer with plenty of aggression. A natural timer with sound technique, Dilshan is a good player of pace bowling. His international career started in the year 1999 with a bang as he scored an unbeaten 163 against Zimbabwe in his debut Test. He is a sharp point fielder and a useful off-spinner with the ball. Dilshan spent time in and out of the side due to constant shuffling up and down the order but his revival as an international cricketer came in 2003. In 4 consecutive Test innings he boasted scores of 63,100, 83 and 104. After 2007 World Cup, the all-rounder was dropped from the side but he made a strong comeback in the final Test against England with a gritty knock of 84 runs.