The list of superlatives for Kumar Sangakkara is endless. Four consecutive centuries in this World Cup ‒ no small feat. Two of those centuries came against Australia and England. And all the centuries embodied the stylish grace that Sanga has made his own.
The debate, then, is not about the greatness of Sanga. Without doubt, he is among the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers the Emerald Nation has produced, along with his best buddy, Mahela Jayawardane. The question though is far more tantalising: is there a case to call him ODI cricket’s greatest ever batsman, above the likes of a Tendulkar or a Ponting?
Michael Clarke, a contender for greatness himself, certainly thinks so. He was quoted by the Daily Telegraph to the effect that if Sanga had played for one of cricket’s Big Three (Cricket’s cosy little circle comprising India, England and Australia), he would have been arguably regarded as the greatest player of all time.
What the figures say
His statistics will certainly testify to that. Sangakkara is part of that rare breed of batsmen who have a higher average outside their home country – 43.10 compared to an overall average of 41.97. And despite the accusations that his best comes again the so-called weaker countries, he averages a healthy 43 away against Australia, almost 53 away against England, 41 away against New Zealand, and a healthy 40 away against India. Ten of his 25 centuries have come outside Sri Lanka, four of them in the current World Cup. South Africa is probably the sole weak spot with an average of 31, but he still has a century to his name there.
Unlike Ponting or Tendulkar, the biggest regret in Sanga’s career will probably be the fact that he has never been part of a World Cup winning team. Yet, he can take solace from the fact that he averages marginally higher than Sachin in World Cups (57.19 compared to Sachin’s 56.95) and far higher than Ponting (45.86).
Statistics don’t tell the entire story though. Sangakkara is, without doubt, among the most stylish batsmen ever in full flow. Southpaws generally have a reputation for elegance, but Sangakkara, in form, supersedes that. Every movement of his oozes class, whether the short shuffle across his stumps or the smooth as cream drive on the off side. Sangakkara and Amla share a special quality; in the blink of an eye, they can motor from 20 off 30 balls to 50 in 40. There is no wild hitting or slogging involved; it’s just an exhibition of pure unrestrained class.
Definitive performance?
But while there is no doubt about his greatness, questions about bein the greatest always delve into tricky territory. Greatness, of course, is not just measured with statistics but also with reputation. Sachin’s greatness derives not just from his performances but also for the way he conducted himself at a time when he would carry the burdens of a population of a billion on his shoulders. There too, Sanga has a case; well-educated, erudite, articulate, he carries himself with impressive grace and delivers passionate, well-thought out speeches.
At the end, pehaps it all boils down to that one defining performance: that performance which comes to define a legend in years to come. Think Sachin’s Desert Storm or his 98 against Pakistan in 2003. Think Ponting’s 140 against India in the 2003 final. All these innings have come in big games, crucial games which helped the team at a crucial stage. These are the innings remembered; these are the performances discussed in bated breath which add to an icon’s legacy.
True, to suggest that Sangakkara does not fall in Tendulkar and Ponting’s league for lack of such a performance seems unfair. Sangakkara has been a rock for Sri Lanka in the last decade; to strip him of greatestness would be to do him a great disservice.
And yet, a man with as much ambition as Sangakkara must have a fire burning inside him. Like all greats, he must surely aspire to creating a legacy. His legacy. And somehow, this seems to be the perfect setting. Sri Lanka are three wins away from their second World Cup win. Sangakkara is playing his last World Cup and he is in the form of his life. Their next opponent: South Africa are vulnerable, still scarred from their past failures.
This is Sanga’s best chance of creating his own fable.
The debate, then, is not about the greatness of Sanga. Without doubt, he is among the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers the Emerald Nation has produced, along with his best buddy, Mahela Jayawardane. The question though is far more tantalising: is there a case to call him ODI cricket’s greatest ever batsman, above the likes of a Tendulkar or a Ponting?
Michael Clarke, a contender for greatness himself, certainly thinks so. He was quoted by the Daily Telegraph to the effect that if Sanga had played for one of cricket’s Big Three (Cricket’s cosy little circle comprising India, England and Australia), he would have been arguably regarded as the greatest player of all time.
What the figures say
His statistics will certainly testify to that. Sangakkara is part of that rare breed of batsmen who have a higher average outside their home country – 43.10 compared to an overall average of 41.97. And despite the accusations that his best comes again the so-called weaker countries, he averages a healthy 43 away against Australia, almost 53 away against England, 41 away against New Zealand, and a healthy 40 away against India. Ten of his 25 centuries have come outside Sri Lanka, four of them in the current World Cup. South Africa is probably the sole weak spot with an average of 31, but he still has a century to his name there.
Unlike Ponting or Tendulkar, the biggest regret in Sanga’s career will probably be the fact that he has never been part of a World Cup winning team. Yet, he can take solace from the fact that he averages marginally higher than Sachin in World Cups (57.19 compared to Sachin’s 56.95) and far higher than Ponting (45.86).
Statistics don’t tell the entire story though. Sangakkara is, without doubt, among the most stylish batsmen ever in full flow. Southpaws generally have a reputation for elegance, but Sangakkara, in form, supersedes that. Every movement of his oozes class, whether the short shuffle across his stumps or the smooth as cream drive on the off side. Sangakkara and Amla share a special quality; in the blink of an eye, they can motor from 20 off 30 balls to 50 in 40. There is no wild hitting or slogging involved; it’s just an exhibition of pure unrestrained class.
Definitive performance?
But while there is no doubt about his greatness, questions about bein the greatest always delve into tricky territory. Greatness, of course, is not just measured with statistics but also with reputation. Sachin’s greatness derives not just from his performances but also for the way he conducted himself at a time when he would carry the burdens of a population of a billion on his shoulders. There too, Sanga has a case; well-educated, erudite, articulate, he carries himself with impressive grace and delivers passionate, well-thought out speeches.
At the end, pehaps it all boils down to that one defining performance: that performance which comes to define a legend in years to come. Think Sachin’s Desert Storm or his 98 against Pakistan in 2003. Think Ponting’s 140 against India in the 2003 final. All these innings have come in big games, crucial games which helped the team at a crucial stage. These are the innings remembered; these are the performances discussed in bated breath which add to an icon’s legacy.
True, to suggest that Sangakkara does not fall in Tendulkar and Ponting’s league for lack of such a performance seems unfair. Sangakkara has been a rock for Sri Lanka in the last decade; to strip him of greatestness would be to do him a great disservice.
And yet, a man with as much ambition as Sangakkara must have a fire burning inside him. Like all greats, he must surely aspire to creating a legacy. His legacy. And somehow, this seems to be the perfect setting. Sri Lanka are three wins away from their second World Cup win. Sangakkara is playing his last World Cup and he is in the form of his life. Their next opponent: South Africa are vulnerable, still scarred from their past failures.
This is Sanga’s best chance of creating his own fable.
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