Another one leaves us. This time it is one of the most beloved and cherished cricketers of our lifetime: Kumar Sangakkara. There is not a box in batting technique which he doesn't tick. He is like a text book of batting.
Over 26,000 runs across all formats in 15 years. But numbers can't justify what he meant to Srilankan and more importantly, to world cricket. He played infinite match winning knocks. His spirit of cricket lecture in 2011 is still fresh in our memories. He has got highest amount of respect from each cricket loving fan across the world. He was the best mixture of orthodox and modern cricket. Usually players slow down in the latter phases of career. But Kumar has got an average of 60+ in last five years of test cricket. He retired from ODI cricket when he had just made four centuries in four games, a feat which had never happened in last million years. To make it in a world cup at the highest stage is just icing on cake.
The feet movement, his batting guard, the position of his body while playing the ball was spectacular. He had so much time while playing the ball as if he can read a poem after the ball has been released from the bowler hand. There was not any obvious flaw in his technique. No plans used to work against him. He succeeded in every condition known on the planet. Usually, subcontinent players struggle in England and Australia. But not Kumar. He could play lofted shots with so much ease that it was hard to set fields for him and none knew what he was going to do next ball.
Winning the world cup T20 and making an unbeaten fifty was a perfect reward to him after failing to do so in previous three world cup finals. He was a big occasion player. He served Sri Lankan cricket with everything he had. He kept wickets to allow the team to play one extra bowler. When he didn't keep wickets, his batting average is astronomical. He never cared about personal records. With the current form he was in, he could have easily played for one or two years and become the human being with maximum number of double hundreds (He is currently only one behind the great Don).
Along with Mahela, he formed one of the most consistent batting partnerships. I still dread to think what they both did to South Africa. Everyone will miss him for sure. More than a cricketer, he is a better human being. I am expecting him to be part of cricket in some other form. Watching him bat was a moment of sheer joy. #Legend #ThankYouSanga
Over 26,000 runs across all formats in 15 years. But numbers can't justify what he meant to Srilankan and more importantly, to world cricket. He played infinite match winning knocks. His spirit of cricket lecture in 2011 is still fresh in our memories. He has got highest amount of respect from each cricket loving fan across the world. He was the best mixture of orthodox and modern cricket. Usually players slow down in the latter phases of career. But Kumar has got an average of 60+ in last five years of test cricket. He retired from ODI cricket when he had just made four centuries in four games, a feat which had never happened in last million years. To make it in a world cup at the highest stage is just icing on cake.
The feet movement, his batting guard, the position of his body while playing the ball was spectacular. He had so much time while playing the ball as if he can read a poem after the ball has been released from the bowler hand. There was not any obvious flaw in his technique. No plans used to work against him. He succeeded in every condition known on the planet. Usually, subcontinent players struggle in England and Australia. But not Kumar. He could play lofted shots with so much ease that it was hard to set fields for him and none knew what he was going to do next ball.
Winning the world cup T20 and making an unbeaten fifty was a perfect reward to him after failing to do so in previous three world cup finals. He was a big occasion player. He served Sri Lankan cricket with everything he had. He kept wickets to allow the team to play one extra bowler. When he didn't keep wickets, his batting average is astronomical. He never cared about personal records. With the current form he was in, he could have easily played for one or two years and become the human being with maximum number of double hundreds (He is currently only one behind the great Don).
Along with Mahela, he formed one of the most consistent batting partnerships. I still dread to think what they both did to South Africa. Everyone will miss him for sure. More than a cricketer, he is a better human being. I am expecting him to be part of cricket in some other form. Watching him bat was a moment of sheer joy. #Legend #ThankYouSanga
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