It is not a question of clinging on and stopping someone else from stepping up. It was clear to Sangakara and the entire world that the Lankan youngeters were simply not up to the task. With Sangakara in the form of his life, scoring something like 4 consecutive hundreds just before his retirement, his remaining presence in the team would have been nothing but a massive asset.
He was 37 if im not wrong when he bowed out. He had stated months in advance he was retiring. In fact if I'm not wrong I even read somewhere he delayed his retirement already once before at the boards request. We dont know how good he would have done had he continued on, maybe he'D have played terribly and hampered his own legacy? End of the day we dont know. Big difference between scoring truckloads of runs in county cricket vs Englands bench strength and vs the top teams in cricket. Additionally he's just retired from the FC scene as well, so his body had obviously given up on him at that format even at county level, would he really have lasted much longer in Tests post 2015??
You ask why Sangakara should have continued when the national board is unprofessional and corrupt. How about to serve his country? To go out to bat with his nation's flag on his chest? To use his supreme talent to develop a young and inexperienced team? To cash in on his rich form and talent to win matches for his country and bring joy to his fellow countrymen? To further cement his own legacy as one of the true greats of international cricket?
Will patriotism put more food on the table? Earn extra cash? Jesus the way you're talking you'd swear he was some money hungry merchant, not one of his nations all time great batsmen who'd already served them passionately and magnificently for over a decade. I mean the answer to literally every single question you've asked there is "He has already done that, and done so for over a decade". What else had he to prove? Absolutely nothing. He knew his time was coming to an end and he decided to go out on the biggest stage, in decent form and having informed everyone well in advance. Its literally the perfect way to go out. You make it sound as if he's retired at 26 and gone playing t20 leagues globally instead.
I agree that there is a step up from county to international cricket but the fact is, Sangakara left international cricket shattering records against international teams and just carried on in the same form in county cricket. He outperformed every international batsman on the county scene. I think it's fair to say therefore that he was likely to carry on being successful playing for Lanka.
Arguably he would have. But so what? The issue with Sri Lankan cricket which have emerged now would have emerged in 2019 instead had he decided to play that long. He did them a service. I'm sure himself and other seniors were constantly telling the SLCB to get their act together for years only to be ignored. Him leaving may have led to SL slumping dramatically yes, but that would have happened anyway until change occurred. Sangakarra is irrelevant here. Also, where were yourself and all Sanga's other critics when SL whitewashed the Aussies last year?? You are scapegoating the man as being almost the sole reason for SL sucking these days, when its clearly something else at play, otherwise SL would've been universally dreadful from the second the 2015 WC ended.
As far as his body telling him that the time away from his family was not worth it anymore, well, in case you haven't realised, county cricket isn't played in Colombo or Galle!
Is that where his family are based? I genuinely dont know. He spends a lot of time on Sky doing punditry and obviously playing county so I assumed he'd relocated himself and his family to England for at least the majority of the year. Even if that isnt the case, the county season lasts four months which gives him 8 months to be at home, way way more than he'D get had he kept playing internationally.
It is true that it isn't Sangakara's fault that the talent has dried up in his country. It is his fault however for chosing to quit and spend the final years of his career butchering county sides, whilst those trying to replace him in the national team are embarrasing his nation's rich cricketing heritage. He is a great batsman who did great things for Lanka, but took a selfish decision in the final years of his career for which his country has paid a price.
Every single cricketer has to "choose to quit" at some point in their career. Can't play forever! Sanga made his call at the ripe old age of 37, most batsmen dont even reach that, informed everyone well in advance of his intentions and bowed out as an absolute legend. He owes Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan fans and the SLCB absolutely nothing for the many many years of fantastic memories and service he gave them. He is well within his right to decide to spend the remaining two to three years of his career in a more relaxed less stressful setting before hanging up the gloves for good. For all we know he may well set up an academy back home or even take up a coaching role in SL when he's finished, and thus provide future players for his nation.
I just dont understand it. He plays brilliantly for years, steps aside at a decent old age having informed everyone in advance, doesnt hog a spot for years too long and hinder his own team ala Ponting, Younis, Tendulkar etc and people blame him as the team he nused to play for start playing terribly two years
after he's gone. On the one hand people slate Misbah and others for staying too long and wish players behaved in a more Australian or Saffer way i.e knowing when to go e.g Kallis, Smith etc, then you slate the one Asian cricketer nowadays who actually
does do this for being "selfish". I just dont get it.
Answer this question please. What did Sangakarra owe anybody after the career he led. Why should he not decide to retire when he did. If you can answer this question in any way that isnt basically "because patriotism" then I'll listen, otherwise its the fans in this case who are being extremely selfish, and not Sangakarra, thinking they can almost imprison a player into the hectic stressful lifestyle of an international cricketer even after decades of service.
rasanna
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