By
Shehan Daniel
Sentiment will replace significance as the country prepares to bid farewell to two of its most prolific and iconic cricketers who will be playing their final limited-over games at home when Sri Lanka take on England in the final One Day International of the seven-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium today.
For much of their careers, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have shadowed each other, one outdoing the other only for the other to pull one back, and in similar fashion, days after Sangakkara played his final limited overs game at ‘home’ in Kandy, Jayawardene will do the same in Colombo.
Jayawardene, who has already retired from two out of the three formats this year, has hinted that he will call it quits from 50-over cricket at the end of next year’s World Cup, with Sangakkara stating he will do the same, though he may possibly prolong his Test retirement.
The game itself will be an insignificant dead-rubber as Sri Lanka have already sealed the series with last Saturday’s win in Pallekele, and both teams will possibly look to experiment with next year’s World Cup in mind. But it will surely be charged with emotion, as spectators will hope to witness one more signature Sangakkara-Jayawardene partnership, that is not only about the amount of runs accumulated but the style and flair in which they are scored.
Both batsmen, who strangely haven’t earned a moniker for their much-loved partnership, have been as inseparable in their run scoring in international cricket as they have been off the field, even making a lucrative business with their partnership.
The pair sit second on the list of aggregate runs scored by a partnership, in Tests, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and ODIs, behind Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar – a testament to the quantity of their contributions to Sri Lanka.
Jayawardene said his emotions ahead of this final game were in check, agreeing however that it would get to him at some point.
“It probably will get to me at some point, hopefully not during the game. Having prepared for this (with the Test retirement earlier this year) I know where I am mentally. That last Test (against Pakistan) was emotional. Knowing that I have to still play in the World Cup, I don’t think this game will be that emotional. It might take a bit though, playing in front of my home fans,” Jayawardene said at the pre-match briefing yesterday.
“I just want to go out and enjoy myself, as I have right through my career, and that won’t change just because I am playing my last game (at home). We have already wrapped up the series, so there is less pressure on all of us, but we want to finish our last game on a high. It is important that we keep winning (with the next year’s World Cup around the corner).”
“What’s important is that I have enjoyed myself playing over the length of my career, and I’m fortunate to be able to play the final home game in front of my own fans. I didn’t think I would have such a long career when I started playing but I’ve been dedicated and have had success and I’ve been really happy.”
The last game saw Jayawardene promoted to opener, a move that he had reportedly been asking the selectors, and though he did not have much success, Jayawardene said that that was still a preferred position for him.
“Given the opportunity, I prefer that. But, it all depends on what the team requirement is going forward and what we are looking at for the World Cup. I’m quite happy to bat anyway the team wants me to,” Jayawardene said.
Jayawardene also said that the challenge of possibly opening during the World Cup was something that excited him.
“I have played as an opener on and off, but what is important for me is what role the team needs me to play. It’s a challenge for me at the twilight of my career but I am looking forward to giving it my best shot and doing what is necessary for the success of the team,” he said.
About his partnership with Sangakkara over the years, Jayawardene said, “Every thing must come to an end. I don’t think this is something that we would regret, because we have given our all towards the team and the country. We will look to do the same thing in tomorrow’s game.”
He emphasised that Sri Lankan cricket was bigger than them, and that the next generation needs to pick up wherever they left off.
“Just because we quit doesn’t mean that Sri Lanka’s cricket will stop and it should move forward, and there are a lot of youngsters who can do that. We believe that they will take that responsibility and do that. We are very happy about what we have been able to contribute over this time, and only if the youngsters can do better than us, and surpass our achievements, can Sri Lankan cricket move forward,” he said.
The former captain also paid a glowing tribute to fans – much like Sangakkara did at the end of last Saturday’s game when he said that the team’s real contract was with their fans – saying that their uniqueness had contributed to the country’s cricketing identity.
“That (the fans and music) is the uniqueness of Sri Lankan cricket and that is the flair we grew up playing with. That is what we have managed to improve from – that flair, we haven’t gone away from. We’ve just kept improving on that. So what we want to leave for the next generation is that challenge to do that,” he said. “The best memory will be the fans. The music, the rhythm and all that. I grew up with that playing for my school. We’ve always had that when we had the big matches. To finish it off in that same rhythm, you can’t ask for anything else.”
“The fans have been fantastic. We’ve probably got the best fans. They do criticise us but it is with a good heart. They don’t go overboard, they know its just a game and they keep turning up whether we do well or not and they are always behind us. So that’s been the strength of the Sri Lanka team and we thoroughly enjoy that. So to say thank you tomorrow will be a great honour,” Jayawardene said.
Sri Lanka lead the series 4-2.
Courtesy:Daily Mirror