| When an attacking batsman is at the crease, | | | | have the batting average to suggest that he was a |
| anything can happen. He can demolish the bowling, | | | | world-beater, his 6,973 Test runs at an average of |
| get out cheaply or play a cameo before getting out. | | | | 40.07 is no mean feat. |
| Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was an | | | | Although he was not a genuine Test all-rounder, |
| attacking opening batsman in any form of the game. | | | | cricket pundits considered Jayasuriya an all-rounder in |
| He played Test cricket (a five-day game) as if he | | | | the shorter version of the game. His batting in |
| was in a hurry. He was no respecter of bowlers or | | | | one-day internationals was phenomenal. Jayasuriya |
| bowling. His aggression was his strength, but also his | | | | scored over 13,000 runs in ODIs (the second man to |
| weakness. | | | | do so) at a strike-rate above 90 runs per hundred |
| Born in Matara, Sri Lanka on June 30th, 1969, | | | | balls. He also snared over 300 ODI wickets with a |
| Jayasuriya developed into an attacking left-handed | | | | decent economy rate of 4.76 runs per over. Often, |
| opener and part-time spinner. Although some of his | | | | Jayasuriya would help Sri Lanka to win ODIs with the |
| favourite shots were on the off-side, Jayasuriya was | | | | ball after wreaking havoc with the bat earlier. |
| capable of playing shots on both sides of the wicket. | | | | The Twenty20 form of the game that the ICC |
| Jayasuriya's improvisation was also a hallmark of his | | | | introduced in the twilight of Jayasuriya's career suited |
| game. In partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana, he | | | | him well. He is the ultimate Twenty20 player- |
| set the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup alight- turning | | | | probably regretting that this form of the game was |
| the first 15 overs of Sri Lanka's innings into a run | | | | not introduced before he was already past 36 years |
| spree. That soon became the blue-print for batting in | | | | of age. At the age of 40, Jayasuriya played with the |
| limited-over games. | | | | Mumbai Indians in the second edition of the IPL. |
| As a batsman, Jayasuriya was a match-winner. | | | | Other notable teams that he played for include the |
| Often, he would take the game beyond the | | | | Asia XI, MCC, Colombo Cricket Club and Somerset. |
| opposition. On a few occasions, he was able to win | | | | In his prime, Jayasuriya was an attacking opener, wily |
| the match with the ball as well. Twice he took | | | | spinner and good fielder. His all-round ability ensured |
| five-wicket hauls with his slow left-arm orthodox | | | | that his cricket career lasted just over two decades. |
| bowling. From 110 Test matches, Jayasuriya captured | | | | For a young cricket nation like Sri Lanka, Sanath |
| 98 wickets at a respectable average of 34.34. His | | | | Jayasuriya is a living legend. |
| batting in Tests was quite good. While he did not | | | | |