Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene's last hurrah
We enjoyed the sight of two of the greatest batsmen of the generation batting together for over a decade and we’ve seen everything they have done to attain that level. Their bonding gave beautiful moments and lasted for a very long time. It was a great success. But everything must end, no matter how great or successful they have been.
Of what turns out to be an emotional moment tomorrow, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene bring an end to the generation of one day cricket in Sri Lanka when they take the field for the final match in any format in Sri Lanka, which is now more than just a dead rubber as it is the farewell match for these two cricketing greats.
Over the years, Mahela and Sanga, found their names entering cricket folklore every time the national team took to the field irrespective of the format. The duo took spotlight just around the time when the euphoric glory of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory was fading away and changed the way Sri Lankan cricket looked like and was thought of by the viewers. Both these players beautified Sri Lankan batting with exquisite strokeplay.
The silky shots and deft timing, without showing any brash intent to smack the ball over the boundary line recklessly, made them fan favorites, commentator favorites, analyst favorites – basically everyone’s favorite players.
The two players go back
The tales of their fortunes have been so connected to each other ever since they made their debuts at the top level. The bonding they shared dates back 20 years when they first met as opponents in a match between their schools. They were opponents but later turned friends as they shared a similar vision and passion for cricket in Sri Lanka. The special bond they shared only accelerated beyond one’s grasp ever since they started to share a common stage to represent their nation.
They etched their legacy at international level building gigantic partnerships that helped Sri Lanka become one of the heavyweights of cricket once again. They were adored as demigods for their accomplishments. They have been record-breakers and irreplaceable for more than 15 years in the Sri Lankan middle order. They further cemented their names in cricketing history when they set a record for the highest Test partnership with 626 runs – A record that still stands.
However, an illustrious bond prolonging to more than 15 years is bound to hit a rough side as well. Despite the presence of these two brilliant cricketers, Sri Lanka fell at the final hurdle in 4 World Cups (all formats) in the last 7 years. But cricket is often known to conjure a fairy-tale ending and it would have been a cruel ending if these prolific players did not get their golden moment.
The T20 triumph in Bangladesh was a fitting farewell and it allowed savoring the much needed world cup glory to the legendary pair who have been serving the game of cricket and their nation relentlessly for the last decade and a half. The win was a sweetener to their story that suffered many heart-breaks and defeats.
There have been so many matches where Sangakkara and Jayawardene have played together while making the island nation proud; and tomorrow at Colombo, the stage is set for the two to work their magic for one last time – talking nostalgically and reminiscing about the bond they shared on their homeland. While the two men, the closest of friends, bid adieu, they would walk off with glittering applause and a deserved standing ovation that would stay in everyone’s memories.