ThePapare.com felt it appropriate to re-publish these articles in homage to our two grand crusaders
Raging as the Mahaweli off the hill country, is the debate of who should captain? The story of the two young men destined to carry the country’s cricketing hopes into the future; Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara have inadvertently entangled themselves in a convoluted scuffle. As thick as thieves as are their wives, they live inseparable lives. Irrespective of who wins the thrown the King and his knight, should have no problem reigning side by side. Then what is tainted about this picture? Jayawardena long being the nation’s heir apparent has been usurped by his buddy who has suddenly crept up as a contender. Will it cause the stand of a ‘united rule’ to be just a piped dream? Or will the mettle of the ‘men’ resist the malady?
When Jayawardena first adorned flannels for his country, there was ” great expectation” A star had emerged on the horizon and the cricket people were animated at the sterling talent unfolding in front of their eyes. Hope springs eternal; a nation lay buzzing. Empowered with exquisite timing and delicate play, the new comer was a revelation to this hero-seeking island. In a subsequent series in Sharjah, the great West Indian, Clive Lloyd named the stylish right-hander man of the series and ear marked him to take the world of batting by storm. So did everybody else.
The authorities were so infatuated by his potential that they prematurely picked him as the deputy skipper under Sanath Jayasuriya and thereafter Marvan Atapattu in order to be groomed for the next generation. With so much faith being placed in his ability the ‘babes in the woods’ was accorded reverence even before he had proved himself. Opinion, on burdening a juvanile was divided even then and, as the prodigy failed to live up to expectations with the bat, that hasty decision was soon reversed. Theory had it that the additional responsibility was a hindrance on his batting capabilities. Jayawardena has produced many innings of class and, yet given the believer only a glimpse of his abundant gift. There was argument that batting, was such a smooth passage for him, that he gave it away.
As the selection committees change so does the thinking and Jayawardena was once more made second-in-command to Atapattu. The possibility of him fitting into the so lofty Aravinda De Silva shoes, and his clear directive to take the country’s batting to the future, it seemed, was not forthcoming. Despite knowing what was expected and taking loads of flack for his performances in the previous World Cup, the boy-wonder did not live up to the faith bestowed on him. It is believed that the true magnificence of Mahela Jayawardena drifted into obscurity. Plans were derailed and followers let go of the bated-breath. Many are of the view that he must live up to caliber before he is finally coronated.
Kumar Sangakkara on the other hand greeted the global scene with mediocrity. His standing was just his eloquent torrent of the language. However, it didn’t take Sangakkara long to survey the panorama and absorb the atmosphere of international cricket. Workman like attention was paid to ironing out the creases; the head that was buried in the law books soon delved into cricketing theories. Slowly but surely he not only mastered the intricacies of the art of batting and the even the more alien craft of keeping wickets, he completely delved into how the game must be played at that level. He set himself up for every advantage. Expanding not only his fragile shoulders, but his equally threadbare batting repertoire, he quietly forced his way as the best batsman of the side. The escalation was tremendous but his work was not done! He continuously added new dimensions to his batting and grabbed at every learning curve in his wicket keeping. Being a general enthusiast of everything around him, Sangakkara unleashed himself as an “ideal” on the cricketing world.
Despite panache and pomposity in his personality and stroke play, he maintained a humble air and amiable disposition, keeping a low profile and never forcing his stimulating opinions anywhere. As it is always with the elusive, the media hunted him down. His lines and thoughts were immediately replicated in all over and soon he became the most sort-after icon in Sri Lanka.
Collecting a bunch of prestigious awards in the line of duty, and being voted personality of the year in a popular magazine, Sangakkara’s reputation ballooned just as his forearms. Stealthily creeping up the wine of ‘hierarchy’ in the island’s bandwagon, his influence in the team became absolute. He nurtured the cubs and cajoled the old men; the respect grew enormous! The entire fraternity stood up and took notice.
His temperament and buoyancy is perfectly placed to take the modern day game head on. Daring leadership only caricatured to the great Arjuna Ranatunga started taking shape in the youthful warrior. For that very reason people heralded him to the helm of Sri Lanka’s mob. He seemed a natural enough successor in all minds. A country, fed up of defensive and straitlaced cricket, nostalgic for another killer era, was more than ready to embrace Kumar Sangakkara.
Now the impasse; Sri Lanka cricket is left to chose between the duo`85.
Mahela Jayawardena’s reticence may be mistaken for a lack of flare but those who are in close circuit with him with vouch for his instinctive cricketing intellect. Though not blatantly obvious he is very much a leader and has the respect of his men. He will be fiercely competitive and equally lethal in taking the fight to the opposition.
The effervescent Kumar Sangakkara exuberates open aggression that will surely confront the enemy just by sheer character. He will set standards for himself and his country and take nonetheless from his men. Where he lacks in experience from Jayawardena he will make up for by effort and will leave no stone unturned until he gets the job done.
Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, they have both yet to prove being constant match winners with the bat. Still struggling to make 50’s into 100’s the sentiment is that they have yet to achieve anything near the past brigade of great Sri Lankan cricketers.
Once upon a time it was felt that Mahela Jayawardena will bear the brunt of batting like Aravinda De Silva and Sangakkara will be the slighter batsman yet gallant leader who keeps wickets. Sri Lanka is poorer for Jayawardena relegating himself into a run of mill batsman in the wake of the more prestigious role of skipper. Sangakkara, who has escalated himself, as the better batsman, is left with the huge responsibility of carrying the batting and minding the stumps. This may prove too much in the end. Sangakkara does by ‘right effort’ what comes naturally to Jayawardena.
Popular demand is that the seemingly smarter, world respected, articulately endowed left-hander should lead the gang. However, Jayawardena is in no way lesser as it will be soon found out. If there are any blemishes against Jayawardena it is the neglecting of his insurmountable talent in services of his homeland and his recent footing with the Vaas issue. With exact facts unavailable, comment should be restricted and therefore we will stick to an insinuation only. Nevertheless the display of command on the field was in full force and, the charge was, led by Jayawardena. Even if it was in the face of an unassuming Vaas unable to distill his team, the alleged mutiny will always be a question mark.
Give or take a few Sangakkara has nose-edged himself ahead as future captain. The administration’s reaction to the rebellious outcry on the ‘Vaas’ matter, their passion to stick with the ‘norm’ and the choice of Jayawardena to captain to the team to Bangladesh is simply the “future events that are casting their shadows” The poignant ending to this tale may be that Kumar Sangakkara will never captain Sri Lanka.
The melting pot is as always in the hands of the not so bold Sri Lankan selectors who generally baulk at ruffling any feathers. Will they take the easy way out this time ?
