End of Mahela - Sangakkara Era in Sri Lanka

Last one-day match of Mahela - Sangakkara in this country .... today

The final one-day match of Sri Lankan stalwarts Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara will be played today (16) at the Colombo Premadasa Stadium against England. This is a day and night match and is expected to commence at 2.15 p.m.

Kumar Sangakkara has officially announced his resignation at the end of the sixth one-day match played at Pallekelle. What he said on that occasion was that any player has to bid goodbye some day and that this is the last one-day game he would be taking part in Sri Lanka. Though Sangakkara would be resigning from one-day matches after the forthcoming World Cup Competition, he still hopes to play in Test matches further. "I have not thought of leaving Test Cricket still. But I have to talk with the selection committee whether to stay on for a few more months playing Test Cricket. If they say that they need me .... will play Test Matches .... but not for years".

When Sangakkara made his speech in Pallekelle about his departure, Mahela commented about his own resignation yesterday (15) at Premadasa Stadium. "I am very fortunate that I am able to finish from where I started in Sri Lanka. I didn't think that when I started that I would be able to come this far. I am really happy that I am able to play this much for the country. What is most important is just as much as I played right throughout this year to finish this game too with a win and then to finish the World Cup which is just 3 months ahead .... in the best possible way.

I and Sangakkara played together a lot. But after this match we two will not be able to play together in this country anymore. But we have no grief about it either .... because every player has to depart someday. What should happen is to display our prowess in front of them. Then cricket in our country will develop further. More than asking 'why do you stay back .... one should depart at a time when asked 'why do you depart?' Mahela says.

When asked whether he would play as the opening batsman or not .... Mahela said, "according to the constitution of the team, I am prepared to play in any position. When I was asked at the last one-day game whether I would like to be the opening batsman, I accepted it with willingness. I can't say what sort of a team will be named for the New Zealand tour. I will play in any position expected of me according to the constitution of the team," Mahela further said.

The one-day tournament which comprises of 3 games has already been won by Sri Lanka 4 -2 and on that basis today's match has become a victorious farewell for both Mahela and Sangakkara. It is presumed that a massive crowd would be expected at the Premadasa Stadium to witness the two most outstanding and most senior players in the present Sri Lankan team.

Of the 433 one-day international matches that Mahela had participated in, he has played 150 matches in his motherland. He has clinched 7 centuries in his motherland and has an aggregate of 4018 runs at an average of 34.63 . Outstanding left-hand bat Kumar Sangakkara has played 141 one-day matches in his motherland and has collected 4691 runs with 9 centuries to his credit with an average of 40.79 .

Asela Withane