The Kumar Sangakkara Mega thread

[Finisher]

180 today
What a player

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Best batsman of the post-Tendulkar era.Only real competition is Smith(in tests) and Kohli.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's done a great loss to Sri Lankan cricket by choosing to retire so soon. He was at his peak and could have gone on for 5 more years. Would have broken Sachin's records easily.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

What an Absolute Shame of not being able to watch him play Odi Cricket since 2015. Poor decision but his right.

He deserved to go past Sachin in Test Cricket and He should have.

SLCB hasn't handled him well enough over the years.

 

[SL_Fan]

So notches up a run-a-ball 180 to take Surrey to the ascendency yet again in a County day nighter. Hit a solid 70 odd as well few days back in the OD championship semi to take Surrey to another final. All this with a Surrey side which was languishing at the bottom of the table in both the County championship and the OD championship before he signed on. Legendary!


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pink ball or ️?! <a href="https://twitter.com/KumarSanga2">@KumarSanga2</a> finishes on 180* as <a href="https://twitter.com/surreycricket">@surreycricket</a> declare at 516/7<br><br>WATCH his best shots >>> <a href="https://t.co/1wC1c3Sbkm">https://t.co/1wC1c3Sbkm</a> <a href="https://t.co/gWepCKvh6a">pic.twitter.com/gWepCKvh6a</a></p>— County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/879751957912662017">June 27, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kumar Sangakkara is the first player to 1,000 runs this season!<br><br>Well batted, sir <a href="https://t.co/4FpYNp5aQk">pic.twitter.com/4FpYNp5aQk</a></p>— County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/879734200559177728">June 27, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SL_Fan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> 1,086 runs in <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp">@CountyChamp</a> 2017<br> 6 x centuries<br> Average 108.6<br><br>Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for Kumar Sangakkara!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goat?src=hash">#goat</a> <a href="https://t.co/eRG6vuGAuZ">pic.twitter.com/eRG6vuGAuZ</a></p>— County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/879778426776731649">June 27, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Specialisttailender]

So he has like 10 centuries in 2 months. Legend of the game. Shouldn't have retired. Not sure about breaking Sachin's record but he is clearly the second best batsmen of all time.

 

[shaz619]

Am really happy for Sanga and have thoroughly enjoyed watching him bat for Surrey, sure I'd have loved to watch him play at the Test level a little longer but he gave absolutely everything to Lanka and more; for long he carried that team on his shoulders and the expectations of his entire country; it got to a point where he did not deserve the psychological fatigue and Lanka no doubt could have handled him better.

Am happy with his career though and the fact that he's in a good position which allows him to earn a few quid and actually enjoy his passion a bit more while he's out there during the twilight of his career. Take a bow champ, have always admired Sanga the corner stone of subcontinental cricket

 

[WC-Passion]

Legend. His batting was always sublime and as a left handed batsmen myself I looked up to him. Love his commentary too.

 

[Ahson8]

Class act.

 

[SL_Fan]

First game back from a split webbing and cracks a 70 odd in the T20 Blast

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> for <a href="https://twitter.com/KumarSanga2">@KumarSanga2</a> &#55357;&#56908;<br><br>Ladies & gents, please be upstanding for the &#55357;&#56401;! <a href="https://t.co/0U58krzeDE">pic.twitter.com/0U58krzeDE</a></p>— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) <a href="https://twitter.com/NatWestT20Blast/status/885564289372770305">July 13, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[TestMatch]

Retired too soon; has looked in good nick the past year and a bit.

 

[Firebreaker]

Sangakkara really needs to stop wicketkeeping in PSL

There are only 6 teams in PSL and which means there are only 6 wicketkeeping spots up for grabs out of which three are gone to Kami,Sarfraz and Rizwan and other two are gone Haddin and Sanga.Looking at these T20s Sarfraz is not really cut for T20 cricket and there really need to be some alternative for Pak in T20 and Rizwan and Akmal brothers are no better really,So Sanga needs to stop eating WK spot just like he doesn't keep for Surrey or in other leagues,That will help having some Pak wicketkeepers rise rather than these players.Look in IPL,They give chances to players like Pant,Samson

 

[TestMatch]

He hit his seventh ton in 12 innings today (Surrey vs Yorkshire).

 

[Specialisttailender]

Finishes county career with scoring winning runs and back to back 150s. Has scored 8 100's in 13 matches. In struggling time he could have played for Sri Lanka and helped out a bit more. As arguably the best player of spin, would have loved to see him play vs Kuldeep and Chahal. He would have made the recent concluding series a little more interesting, it could have boosted confidence for his young players. His country has no seniority in batting to look up to. What a legend. He is #1 Test batsmen and #3 overall in my books.

 

[SL_Fan]

Bowing out in style. Champion.


2017 County Championship Division One

2017 Royal London OD Cup

2017 CPL

 

[SL_Fan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Long live The King &#55357;&#56401;<a href="https://twitter.com/KumarSanga2">@KumarSanga2</a>'s the Champ &#55357;&#56495; in all its glory... <a href="https://t.co/JU0QtyvlxI">pic.twitter.com/JU0QtyvlxI</a></p>— County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/910763107122806784">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SL_Fan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ICYMI: The full list of winners at last night's End of Season Awards...<a href="https://t.co/wD9BTYc1rw">https://t.co/wD9BTYc1rw</a></p>— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/surreycricket/status/911319189134172161">September 22, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A legend of the game leaves the Kia Oval outfield for the final time...<br><br>Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/KumarSanga2">@KumarSanga2</a> <a href="https://t.co/PGeVwGqKK9">pic.twitter.com/PGeVwGqKK9</a></p>— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/surreycricket/status/911261325053054977">September 22, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cric1234]

Best ever FC season at the age of 39 with time he got better and better an all time great without question.

 

[Specialisttailender]

Bowing out in style. Champion.


2017 County Championship Division One

2017 Royal London OD Cup

2017 CPL

I thought it was 13 matches not 13 innings.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sangakkara goes out on a high

LONDON: Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara says he is retiring from first-class cricket at the perfect time after a remarkable English county championship season with Surrey.

The 39-year-old left-handed batsman made an unbeaten 35 in his final first-class innings against Lancashire to finish the campaign with eight centuries and 1,491 runs at an average of 106.50.

“‘ll miss it terribly, without a doubt, but that’s a good thing,” he told the BBC on Wednesday. “A lot of players walk away bitter and upset and regretting a lot of the things that might have been.

“I walk away with a few regrets, like anyone would, but I’m absolutely happy with the way I played the game and what I’ve achieved.

“Sometimes you hold on a bit too long and I always think it’s better to let go a bit sooner than later.”

Sangakkara, who quit Test cricket in 2015, is fifth in the list of all-time run scorers. He will continue to play in Twenty20 competitions next year.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1360615/sangakkara-goes-out-on-a-high

 

[The_Odd_One]

What a champion batsman! The best in the world after Ponting era till he retired.

 

[Abdullah719]

Statement from Sanga:

I have read with a sense of concern reports of my imminent entry into politics in Sri Lanka as a possible candidate for the presidential election in 2020.

I was also made aware of varying opinions and speculations on this from both members of the public and media. I have, by what I hear and read, been touted as a suitable candidate by some while that others have questioned my credibility and character. While respectfully appreciating the varying diverse opinions made public, I would like to put to rest speculation and rumour once and for all, confirming that I do not harbour any ambitions for political office. I never have, and, with enormous certainty, I can say I never will.

I believe that politics and public service is a very serious responsibility. Public duty should always be served with accountability and integrity holding sacrosanct the public trust. I have the greatest respect for those public servants, whether elected or appointed, who are motivated by good and honourable intentions and are therefore steadfastly committed to the betterment of our country.

While I have no political ambitions, I do hope that we Sri Lankans have the patience and foresight to not only vote the best-suited and most-qualified persons into public office, but also thereafter retain patience as positive social and economic change will not be achieved overnight. I also hope that we have the strength to continuously agitate and demand integrity, accountability, transparency and respect from our elected politicians, ensuring they fully appreciate and understand they that are entrusted with our will to be exercised with responsibility in a manner that benefits all in our society equally.

Post cricket, my plan is, first and foremost, to focus on my family after many years of sacrifice on their part while I was away playing cricket around the world. I am also looking forward to the challenge of developing a second post-playing career in an exciting new phase of my life. Finally, I wish to continue to work with existing charitable partners and friends striving to help various disadvantaged sections of our community. I am forever inspired by the selfless and passionate leaders and volunteers driving these charitable organisations forward and I will try my hardest to support their wonderful efforts in meaningful and useful ways.

 

[OMB]

Sangakkara prevailed in all conditions, against all attacks: Brian Lara

Sangakkara was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame earlier this month. Alongside him, India great Vinoo Mankad was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.


Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has congratulated Kumar Sangakkara on being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, saying the wicketkeeper-batsman prevailed in all conditions against all sorts of bowling attacks.

Sangakkara was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame earlier this month. Alongside him, India great Vinoo Mankad was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Congratulating Kumar Sangakkara on being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, Brian Lara, a Star Sports Select Dugout expert, said: "Kumar Sangakkara, unlike many batsmen, prevailed in all conditions, against all bowling attacks around the world. And most importantly, he did it in their backyard, not just his. Kumar Sangakkara on many occasions has amazed me, but the one that stands out the most was his four consecutive centuries in the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia. That was something to behold. Just out of the world. Congratulations to you Kumar Sangakkara on being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame."

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sangakkara-prevailed-in-all-conditions-against-all-attacks-brian-lara-101624344581547.html

 

[Bhaijaan]

A run machine.

One of the most consistent and dependable batsman across different conditions.

My only complaint with him is that he did not quite show enough aggression at his peak to stand out and stamp his authority as the absolute best at any given time of his career.

Just like Kallis was hiding behind Pollock, Smith for years Sangakkara too let Dilshan take over often and was happy playing second fiddle.

Taking example Lara and Tendulkar, both played with someone who was clearly a bigger striker in Sehwag/Gayle but every now and then they would walk out saying alright let me show you tonight who the hell I am and that's what made them the two stand out batsmen of this era.

Sangakkara and Kallis, I watched them bat for 15-20 years with tremendous respect but not once did I feel they came out to bat with that mamba mentality.