Sanath Jayasuriya

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Sanath Jayasuriya : biography

30 June 1969 –

Jayasuriya is known for both cuts and pulls along with his trademark shot, a lofted cut over point. He was the key player in Sri Lanka’s victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, where he was adjudged Man of the Tournament in recognition of his all-round contributions. His philosophy towards batting is summarized by an all-aggression approach and over the years he has dominated almost every one day bowling combination that he has faced at one stage or another. Batsmen such as Adam Gilchrist and Virender Sehwag have similar styles. This is because of his ability to make huge match-winning contributions at rapid pace once he gets in, he holds the record for the second highest number of one day centuries and has scored the second most 150+ scores (4 scores) (Sachin Tendulkar has the most 150+ scores at 5). His devastating performances have ensured that Sri Lanka have won almost 80% of the matches that he scores over 50 in. This is due to the rapid rate in which he scores his runs as well as the psychological effect he has on opposition bowling attacks.

He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997 and served as captain of the Sri Lankan team in 38 Test matches from 1999 to 2003. He is a very useful all-rounder with a good batting average in both Test cricket and One Day Internationals, and an excellent batting strike rate in One Day Internationals.

As a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has a reasonable bowling average and economy rate. He regularly helps to decrease the workloads of strike bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas and as of August 2007 has 400 international wickets.

Jayasuriya is a skillful infielder, with a report prepared by Cricinfo in late 2005 showing that since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the seventh highest number of run-outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman, with the eleventh highest success rate.

Test career

Jayasuriya held the record for the highest Test score made by a Sri Lankan, 340 against India in 1997. This effort was part of a second-wicket partnership with Roshan Mahanama that set the then all-time record for any partnership in Test history, with 576 runs. Both records were surpassed in July 2006 when fellow Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 as part of a 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa. On 20 September 2005, during the Second Test of the home series against Bangladesh, Jayasuriya became the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests, and the 33rd Test cricketer to achieve this feat.

Jayasuriya announced his intention to retire from Test cricket following the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka in April 2006. He reversed his decision soon after, however, joining the Sri Lankan cricket team in England in May 2006. Missing the first two Tests, Jayasuriya returned in the Third Test at Trent Bridge.http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/engvsl/content/story/249041.html

After scoring 78 runs on day three of the first Test against England in Kandy in 2007, he announced he was to retire from Test cricket at the end of the match. In that inning he hit six fours in one over against James Anderson.

One day international career

Sanath Jayasuriya held the records for the fastest fifty (against Pakistan 17 balls), fastest 100 (against Pakistan 48 balls) and fastest 150 (against England in 95 balls) in ODI cricket. Though he lost the fastest 100 to Shahid Afridi and fastest 150 to Shane Watson, he still holds the record for the fastest fifty. Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar are the only players in history to have 4 ODI scores over 150. Jayasuriya’s highest ODI score is 189 runs, scored against India in Sharjah in 2000. It remains the highest ODI score by a Sri Lankan, and at the time of the innings it was the third-highest in ODI history. Until December 2009, he held the four highest individual scores by a Sri Lankan, and seven of the top nine.http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_innings.html?class=2;id=8;type=team

Jayasuriya’s results in international matches
  Matches Won Lost Drawn Tied No result
title=List of Test victories|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=25 April 2012}} 110 40 35 35 0
title=List of ODI victories|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=25 April 2012}} 445 233 193 3 16
title=List of T20I victories|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=25 April 2012}} 31 19 12