THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CRICKETER OF THE DECADE " KUMAR SANGAKKARA"

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He was a former Cricketer from Sri Lanka. An elegant  top-order left handed batsman. He is usually known as one of the most dominant cricketer of world cricket. In terms of runs, he is the second highest 28,016 International runs after Sachin Tendulkar.

He has given remarkable and outstanding performances for his country throughout his career. Apart from the world class batsman, he is also a good wicket keeper who made some extravagant records.

He is   “K U M A R  S A N G A K K A R A”

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Image Courtesy www.google.com

   

P R O F I L E

Kumar “Sanga" Chokshanada Sangakkara was born on October 27, 1977 at Matale, Sri Lanka. He  acknowledged his  education  from Trinity College, Kandy. He has one elder brother named Vermindra and two sisters named, Saranga and Thushari. In his school life, Sangakkara involved in lots of sports activities, like tennis, badminton swimming and cricket, but he focused a lot on his cricket.

He played for his school in under-13. Before selection in the National Cricket team, He played for under-15, under-17 and under-19. He graduated in 1996       in the capacity of arts. He then joined the University of Colombo, following his father as a lawyer but could not finish his studies, due to cricketing career.

Sangakkara has married to Yehali. He has a girl and boy, the twins names are Swyree and Kavith respectively.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L  C R I C K E T

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

 

T E S T S

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com


Kumar Sangakkara made his debut in test on July 20-23, 2000 at Galle. On his debut match against South Africa, scored only 23 runs and got out LBW. He was the most successful test batsman after Sachin Tendulkar in terms of runs making. He made his  first century against India in  2001. In 2002, Sangakkara  made his first  double hundred against Pakistan in Asian test Championship final. In his 134 test matches, He batted in  233 innings and  made 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40. He smashed 38 hundreds and 52 fifties. Sangakkara also holds the record 11 times double hundred, second to Donald Bradman in test cricket history. Following videos shows some magnificent performances in test matches including his highest ever test score inning.

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

During his test career he smashed 1491 fours and lusty 52 sixes. He smashed his highest ever test score of 319 runs against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on February 4, 2014. He also holds Sixteen (16) man of the match and four (4) man of the series awards in his test career. Sangakkara’s career partnerships in tests, made him a tremendous team player. Sangakkara’s career partnerships in tests, made him a tremendous team player. He also holds 127, 50+ stands and 63, 100+ partnerships with different players. Following chart shows his career and highest test partnerships with his different team mates.

 

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

 

Sangakkara played 15 tests as captain. In test matches, He is the only player in test cricket who holds the record as fastest man to achieve 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12, 000 runs. He played his last test at P Sara Oval Colombo against the India on 20-24 Aug, 2015. Sangakkara scored only 32 and 18 runs in first and second inning respectively which costs them a loss in the match. He played as wicket keeper batsman and done tremendous job. After that his role was in the team as a specialist batsman. Following chart shows his test performances against each teams.

 

Image courtesy www.wikipedia.org

 

 

O D I s

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Kumar Sangakkara made his debut in ODIs on July 5, 2000 at Galle. On his debut match against Pakistan, He scored only 35 runs. Like tests, He become the successful ODI batsman after Sachin Tendulkar in terms of runs making. In his 404 ODIs, batted in 380 innings, made 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98. He made 93 fifties and 25 hundreds. These highlights showing some splendid performances in ODIs including his highest ever ODI score inning.

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

  

During his ODI career he smashed 1385 fours and booming 88 sixes. He made his highest ever ODI score of 169 runs against South Africa at R. Premadasa Stadium on July 20, 2013. Like tests, He holds Thirty One (31) man of the match and five (5) man of the series awards in ODI career. Apart from his world class batting skills, Sangakkara was quite outstanding behind the stumps. He made 99 stumps, and 402 catches in ODIs. He also holds 153, 50+ stands and 67, 100+ partnerships with different players. Following chart shows his career and highest ODIs partnerships with his different team mates.

 

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

 

Sangakkara played 45 ODIs as captain. He held healthy average of 47.45 and achieved Thirty One (31) man of the match and five (5) man of the series awards. He played his last ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground against the South Africa on March 18, 2015. Sangakkara scored only 45 runs at good pace but any other batsman could not capitalize on the situation. As a result Sri Lanka lost the match. Following chart shows his ODIs performances against each teams.

 

Image courtesy www.wikipedia.org

 

 

T20Is

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Kumar Sangakkara started his T20Is Career on June 15, 2006 against England. On his T20Is debut, scored 21 runs. Sri Lanka won that thrilling match by just 2 runs. In his 56 ODIs, batted in 53 innings, made 1382 runs at an average of 31.40 with outstanding strike rate of 119.55. He made 8 fifties. During his T20Is career he smashed 139 fours and blistering 20 sixes. He made his highest ever T20Is score, 78 runs against South Africa at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Dec 09, 2009. Like Tests and ODIs, He holds Three (3) man of the match and One (1) man of the series awards in T20s. Behind the stumps, He made 20 stumps, and 25 catches in T20Is. He also holds 16, 50+ stands and 02, 100+ partnerships with different players. Following chart shows his career and highest T20Is partnerships with his different team mates.

 

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

 

Sangakkara played 22 T20Is as captain. He achieved Three (3) man of the match and One (1) man of the series awards. He played his last T20 at Shere Bangla National Stadium Dhaka, against India in World T20 final. Sangakkara helped his team and made 52* runs to chased a low total of 130. Sri Lanka won the title. This video tape shows his performance that helps Sri Lanka to become World Champion of T20.

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

W O R L D   C U P S

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Sangakkara played four World Cups. 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. In his 37 World Cup appearances, scored 1532 runs at an average of 56.74. He made 7 fifties and 5 hundreds. In World Cups career, He earned Four (4) man of the match awards. He made his highest ever World Cup score, 124 runs against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium on March 18, 2011.These videotapes demonstrates some brilliant performances in World Cups. 

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

Video Source www.youtube.com

 

As a Captain he played 9 World Cup matches. He also holds 12, 50+ stands and 10, 100+ partnerships with different players. Following chart shows his career and highest World Cups partnerships with his different team mates.

Image courtesy www.espncricinfo.com

 

T E S T   R E C O R D S 

 1.  Most double hundreds in a career. Second in the list after Don Bradman.
      12400 runs in 134 matches averaging 57.40.

 2.  Only player who holds most 190+ score in a career. (World record).

 3.  He is fifth in the list of scoring 5000 runs averaging 57.40

 4.  He is fourth in the list, of scoring 38 hundreds.

 5.  He is seventh in the list, of scoring 52 fifties.

 6.  Sangakkara has taken 197 dismissals including wicket keeper dismissals.

 7.  He is the only player, scored 150+ in four consecutive tests. (World record).

 8.  In 152 innings, he made fastest 8,000 runs. (World record).

 9.  In 172 innings, he made fastest 9,000 runs. (World record).

10. In 208 innings, he made fastest 11,000 runs. (World record).

11. In 224 innings, he made fastest 12,000 runs. (World record).

12. He also holds the record for highest partnership for any wicket. 624 runs with Mahela Jayawardene. (World record).

13. He holds the most 3rd wicket partnership runs with Mahela Jayawardene, 5890 runs. (World record).

14. Made 1483 runs in 2014 including 9 fifties and 4 hundreds with an outstanding 71.09 average.

 

O D I   R E C O R D S

1. He is second in the list, In 404 matches, scored 14234 runs averaging 41.98.
    Only Sri Lankan who scored 14,000 runs.

2. He is second in the list, of scoring 93 fifties.

3. Holds the record of most dismissals including wicket keeping. 501 in total.(402 catches and 99 stumpings).

4. Holds the record of most stumpings as a wicket keeper, 99. (World record)

5. Holds the record of most runs in all formats in a calendar year 2014. Scored 2868 runs, 1493 Tests, 1256 ODIs and 119 T20Is. (World record).

6. Holds the record of only batsman who scored four consecutive hundreds in ICC World Cup 2015. (World record).
 
7. Holds the record dismissals, 54 in 25 matches including wicket keeping dismissals. (World record).

8. In terms of scoring runs, Sangakkara is second in the list after Sachin Tendulkar 34,357 International runs. He made 28,016 International runs in all formats of the game.

 

Following images shows wicket keeping in all formats of the game.

 

Image courtesy www.google.com

 

Image courtesy www.google.com

 

Image courtesy www.google.com

 

A W A R D S 

 

He was a tremendous skill player of world cricket. He scored 28,016 International runs that made him a great player of all time in cricket history.

Sangakkara has achieved the LG People’s Choice Award in 2011 and 2012.

He was the only person who achieved Wisden Leading Cricketer in the world twice, once in 2011, then 2014.

He has been titled as ICC ODI player for the year 2011.

In 2012, Sangakkara also named as ICC Test Cricketer of the year and ICC Cricketer of the year.

He also has been titled once again ICC ODI Cricketer for the year 2013.

He was named ICC Test World XI for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He was also named ICC ODI World XI for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

He also achieved the Asian award for his outstanding performances.

Sangakkara’s performances made him CEAT International Cricketer for the year 2015.

 

R E T I R E M E N T 

 

Sangakkara announced his T20Is retirement during the ICC world Twenty 20 in 2014. After the world cup 2015, he also announced retirement from ODIs as well on March 18, 2015.

 

 

 



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