This is with reference to the report “Sri Lanka saves Test in dramatic fashion,” (June 17). Kumar Sangakkara received a standing ovation from a distinguished audience when he made his historic one-hour MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture at Lords, the headquarters of cricket in July 2011 and now in June 2014 he once again received the same reception from a bigger “audience” at the same venue but for a different feat. Sangakkara has played alongside four of the five top Test run-scorers of all time and largely been overshadowed by them. But be it Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis or Brian Lara, none of them ever succeeded in scoring a century at Lords.
Sanga scored 147 in the first innings of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England and 61 in the second innings. His total contribution of 208 runs in the Test helped Sri Lanka to draw the match in an exciting finish. “He was a man with a purpose today,” said Mahela Jayawardene, his old friend with whom he has scored over 6,000 Test runs and who was the first to congratulate him.
Mahela said, “I know he was just overwhelmed, he has had ticked that box.” Sri Lanka’s former coach Paul Farbrace who has switched sides now had this to say about Sanga: “I would love to have seen the back of him early but from a personal point of view I am delighted for him because he is a world-class player and a world-class person.” What a tribute to the great sportsman. Good luck sir, keep on entertaining your fans. — S.H. Moulana, Riyadh
Sanga rules at Lords
