As the stage bid adieu to the celebrated son, the vibrant crowd gathered in numbers at the P.Sara to see the prodigy in his final bow in white clothing with the famous number ‘84’ printed close to his chest.
While standing ovations and boisterous cheers flaked into the gloomy sky, charming memories of the paragon sealed its places in their hearts. Emotions and accolades surrounded the Oval, not only endorsing Sanga’s outstanding career, but also hauling reminiscences of a ‘gentleman’ both on and off the field and an ambassador who brought fame to a beautiful island nation.
As Monday became a part of cricket history, let’s take a final look at the stalwart’s sublime journey and his astounding numbers and figures that would rank him among the extraordinary.
Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara made his Test debut at the age of 22 against South Africa at Galle in 2000. He was the 84th Test cap of Sri Lanka. Having engaged in many other sports with cricket placed last on his mind, no doubt he was a late bloomer, unlike promising youngsters such as Sachin Tendulkar who rose to fame as teenagers. But in Sanga’s tale, what was to unfold in the next decade was incredible.
At the end of a 15 year Test career, Sanga stockpiled 12400 runs in 134 Tests with 38 centuries and 52 half centuries, standing fifth at the all-time table and most career runs by a left handed batsman. His stunning average of 57.40 is easily the highest out of players who have appeared in more than 100 Test matches. His 11679 runs (37 centuries, 50 Half centuries) at no.3 is the highest by any batsman in that position while his average of 60.82 at no.3 is only second to Sir Don Bradman (avg. 103.63).
During 54 Test wins in his career, Sanga’s average stands at 71.69 which include 5449 runs with 19 tons.
His phenomenal 11 double centuries is only one short of Bradman’s 12. His first double ton came against Pakistan at Lahore in 2002 (230 runs). He later scored two more against them (211 in 2011, 221 in 2014), 3 against Bangladesh (200* in 2007, 222* in 2007, 319 in 2014), 2 against South Africa (232 in 2004, 287 in 2006) and one each against Zimbabwe (270 in 2004), India (219 in 2010) and New Zealand (203 in 2015). Heart-breakingly he missed out on 3 more; once when he was given out following a contentious decision against Australia in 2007 (192), against Pakistan at Galle in 2012 where he remained 199* when the team was bowled out while later another 192 at SSC.
What’s more intriguing about Sangakkara’s numbers story is that it narrates his ability to play under pressure. Out of his 11 double tons, four (287 vs. South Africa, 232 vs. South Africa, 230 vs. Pakistan and 211 vs. Pakistan) came after the first wicket had fallen before the total was 10 on the scoreboard. In 57 such innings, he had scored 2969 runs. He holds a bewildering average of 91.5 coming-in after a 100 run opening stand where he has made 1098 runs in 14 innings including 5 centuries and 3 half centuries.
Perhaps the first word that comes into our minds upon hearing his name would be ‘consistency’, as the maestro is the first person in history to score 150+ in 4 consecutive Tests. Between July and December 2007, he made 200*, 222* against Bangladesh, 192 against Australia, and 152 against England in consecutive games.
As a specialist batsman, Sanga has amassed 9283 runs at a staggering average of 66.78 standing only behind Gary Sobers (67.39) and Bradman (99.94).
In terms of innings played, Sanga is the fastest to reach 8000, 9000, 11000 and 12000 career runs and joint fastest to reach 10000. His 152 innings to reach 8000 (10y 14d) is two less than Tendulkar (12y 184d) who took 154 innings. He stands ahead of Rahul Dravid (176 ins) being the fastest to reach 9000 runs (172 ins). At 195 innings, he remains the joint fastest to reach 10000 runs, a spot he shares with Brian Lara and Tendulkar. However, compared to Lara (13y 250d) and Tendulkar (15y 121d), Sangakkara reached the point in a mere 12 years and 159 days. To hike the 11000 summit, Sanga took only 208 innings (13y 199d) contrary to Lara’s 213 (14y 354d). His rapid ascent to the 12000 in just 224 innings is simply the best considering the 247 innings taken by Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar. The 14 years and 167 days spent by Sanga to reach the milestone has a sounding edge over Ponting (14y 225d) and a clear contrast with Tendulkar who took 18 years and 337 days.
They say Sanga was like ‘fine wine’. Indeed, unlike many others, he was refined with age. Twenty four out of his 38 centuries came after he was turned 30 and during that period he made 6908 runs (avg. 60.06). Since the age of 35, he had piled up 2528 runs (avg. 60.19) in 23 Tests and in those 2528 runs sit 8 centuries including 3 double tons and his career best 319.
Although he may have seemed slightly out of rhythm in his final few games, Sanga has scored 2818 runs in his last 25 Tests at a breathtaking average of 64.04 with 3 double tons and 6 more tons. When observing his average (55.70) coming into the final 25 games, it is striking to see it increasing by nearly 10 runs (64.04) during that phase. It also made his career average jump from 55.70 to 57.40 in the end.
He also carries numerous records such as scoring 2312 runs at SSC with an average of 74.58 only being behind Mahela Jayawardene for most Test runs in a single venue. His 2911 runs (avg. 74.64) against Pakistan are most by any batsman against them. Sanga’s 16 Man of the Match awards puts him only behind Jacques Kallis (23), Murali (19), Shane Warne and Wasim Akram (17) but certainly the highest by a specialist batsman.
When noting about the erudite, hardly can we forget his longstanding mate Mahela Jayawardene. Together with him, he has made 6554 Test runs in 120 innings. Whilst Tendulkar and Dravid have accumulated 6920 runs (avg. 50.51), the Sanga-Mahela combination reads an average of 56.50. The duo also holds the record for the highest ever Test partnership for any wicket, 624 runs made against South Africa in 2006.
Evaluating his performance in ICC rankings, Sanga ended 3 years (2007, 2010 and 2011) as the highest ranked Test batsman and upon his swansong, jointly holds the 6th place. His all-time points tally of 938 only rates him behind Sir Don Bradman (961), Sir Len Hutton (945), Sir Jack Hobbes (942), Ricky Ponting (942) and Peter May (941).
Taking a glimpse of his heroics in the shorter formats of the game, the most salient feature is him being the second highest all time ODI run scorer (14234 runs) behind Tendulkar and again, the most by a left hander. In ODIs, he has scored 25 centuries and 93 half centuries. He is also the first and so far, the only player to score 4 consecutive centuries in ODIs where during the ICC World Cup in 2015, he made tons against Bangladesh (105*), England (117*), Australia (104) and Scotland (124) in successive games. His glovemanship also carries the highest number of dismissals in ODIs 482 (including 99 stumpings) and the most in WCs, 54 in 25 matches, both ahead of Adam Gilchrist. In addition, Sanga’s 139 stumpings behind the wickets stands as the highest by a wicketkeeper in all three formats. In T20Is, Sanga has won World Cup silverware also being the Man of the Match of the 2014 finals.
Moreover, in 2014 he scored 2868 runs in all three formats combined, 1493 in Tests, 1256 in ODIs and 119 in T20Is. It rests as the highest number of runs in all three formats in a calendar year.
Among many awards he had won, stands 2 ODI Cricketer of the Year awards (2011, 2013), 1 Test Cricketer of the Year award (2012) and 1 ICC Cricketer of the Year award (2012). He was named ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’ by Wisden in 2011 and 2015 while he was the youngest and the only active cricketer to deliver the MCC Spirit of the Cricket Cowdrey Lecture.
Numbers usually relates only half the story of a world class sporting personality. But in Kumar Sangakkara’s case, these riveting stats and figures gravitates and merits his startling career as one of the greatest in history. Without doubt, his stylish stroke-play, stupendous consistency with the willow assorted with elegance, class and mastery both on and off the field plants the name ‘Kumar Sangakkara’ among the perennial icons ever to grace the gentlemen’s game.
