Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara received a standing ovation at Lord’s following his articulate Cowdrey Lecture three years ago. He remains the only Sri Lankan and the only current player to have delivered the prestigious annual lecture on the state of the game.
On the field, however, Sangakkara had failed to achieve any significant milestone at the Home of Cricket and that was put to rest on Saturday as he made a match winning century at Lord’s during a crucial moment in the series.
Sanga’s Cowdrey Lecture was celebrated all around the world and his thoughts on the game are much sought after by fans and administrators who mean well for the game.
Former Wisden Editor Scyld Berry in a recent article in Britain’s Telegraph newspaper criticized England and Australia for continuously vetoing Sri Lanka’s application for full membership at the ICC and Berry felt that the talents of Mahadevan Sathasivam, Gamini Goonasena, Michael Tissera and Anura Tennekoon didn’t get enough exposure at the world stage due to Sri Lanka’s lack of opportunities.
Even after being granted Test status, Sri Lanka were given fewer opportunities by stronger members of the ICC. Twenty years after being granted Test status, England had played Sri Lanka in just five Tests while West Indies hosted Sri Lanka in a Test Match only after the country had become the limited overs World Champions in 1996.
Sangakkara’s lecture at Lord’s in 2011 told the world that Sri Lanka not only produced batsmen and spin bowlers of high class, but great orators too who had a vision for the great game.
There was quite a bit of skepticism leading up to the fourth ODI at Lord’s on Saturday as the tourists had been bowled out for their third lowest score a few day ago in the third ODI at Old Trafford. Many fans were worried that Sri Lanka will not be able to overcome the ordeal.
But Sangakkara laid the foundation for a remarkable fight back as Sri Lanka posted 300 runs with the team’s star batsman top scoring with 112 runs.
It took Sanga 13 balls to get off the mark at Lord’s, but once he got going there was no stopping. The 18th over bowled by Joe Root gave the indication that Sangakkara had found his groove. He stepped out to the spinner and whacked him for consecutive boundaries and an exquisite cover drive off the last ball of the over suggested that he was in for a big knock.
Sanga is a man on mission. In the world stage he has dominated most attacks and has left his mark at most venues. But the moving ball in England has often proved to be his undoing. For a keen student of the game and a hard worker on his technique it’s surprising that it has taken many years for Sangakkara to dominate English conditions.
In Test cricket, Sanga averages a mere 30 in nine games in England, way below his career average of 58.
He improved on his ODI record in England last year during the Champions Trophy. After a disappointing game in Cardiff where Sri Lanka were bowled out for 138 against New Zealand they were facing early elimination from the competition and against hosts England at The Oval Sanga came up with a match winning unbeaten 138.
Following his Lord’s hundred, Sangakkara now has an outstanding ODI average of 51 in England, significantly above his career average of 40. But it’s in Test cricket he would want to stamp his authority.
In a bid to get well prepared for the series, the 36-year-old opted to forgo an IPL contract and instead signed up with English county Durham ahead of Sri Lanka’s tour. He warmed up for the series against England with a big hundred against Sussex at Hove that helped Durham to save the game. His Lord’s century helped Sri Lanka to square the ODI series with one game to go and his form will be extremely vital for the Sri Lankans for a good show in England during rest of the summer.
