As Sri lankan cricket’s greatest ambassador Kumar Sangakkara prepares to bow out, he termed his decade and a half in the game as a “great one” with the biggest regret being not able to win the ICC ODI World Cup despite being a part of two summit clashes.
“I would have loved to win a 50-over World Cup. We had two chances but we didn’t convert them. It would have been great had we won a Test series in India as well. So there are things that could have been but I think that’s the way the game goes,” Sangakkara, one of the most articulate man to have graced the cricket field told reporters during his farewell press conference.
Sangakkara said that there are regrets but he would not lose his sleep over them.
“There are regrets but not regrets that I will be thinking about for years and years, and be bitter about. I have had a great career. I have enjoyed everything — the wins and the losses. The bad times and the good times, everything has been a great experience,” said the player, who has close to 28,000 international runs with 63 hundreds.
“It would have been nice to win a few more Test matches away from home, especially in Australia. And I remember going to England with the team last year and beating England 1-0 in that series. It was the best overseas tour I have been on.”
He also recalled Sri lanka’s 2006 tour of England. “In 2006, we drew 1-1 and won the one-day series 5-0 in England. That was a great tour,” he added.
While he spoke about good and bad phases of his career, he also mentioned the scary incident — the life threatening terror attack on Sri lankan team bus in lahore in 2009. “It was one of the scariest times for us for sure.”
Sangakkara most consistent batsman I’ve seen: Mathews
Galle: In a fitting tribute to Kumar Sangakkara, Sri lanka skipper Angelo Mathews on Tuesday spoke of Don Bradman and the retiring great in the same breath, calling him the most “consistent batsman he has ever seen”.
“We are very thankful for Sanga the way he has performed over the last 15 years and he is easily the most consistent batsman I have seen. I haven’t seen the great Donald Bradman but Sanga is easily the most consistent batsman I’ve ever seen. We learnt a lot from him up to now and he is ready to teach us and pass on his experience, and we have benefited a lot from him,” Mathews said.
The lankan captain is confident that they can make Sangakkara’s farewell memorable by winning the series. “We’re all geared up and we want to give him a good farewell. He’s been a great servant for Sri lankan cricket and for the team and we’re very thankful to him for what we’re today.
“Our team is in a better position because of contributions from players like Sanga, Mahela (Jayawardena), Thilan (Samaraweera) and TM Dilshan. So now it’s up to the younger generation to take responsibility and show what we are capable of,” said Mathews.
When asked if there is a chance Sangakkara could play the third Test if the series is tied 1-1 going into the SSC match, Mathews replied, “I wished so but unfortunately he’s calling it a day and we all have to respect that decision. Good things have to come to an end and Sanga has decided it’s time up for him.”
“It’s going to be a tough ask,” he said about the transition.