he has completed 20 years in International cricket.Lets wish him congratz and Best Wishes 
:k:
Re: Jayasuriya..... the glittering sun........ 20 years in International Cricket
After Wasim Akrem Asia's biggest match winner in limited version of game, unquestionably. A Great!!
Re: Jayasuriya..... the glittering sun........ 20 years in International Cricket
I remember watching him on his first tour to Pakistan, when wasim and waqar were bombardng the batsmen with bouncers and Jayasuria despite getting hit few times on helmet and arms never gave up. He along with Tilkaratne were the only 2 batsmen who stood up to 2 ws. He showed that he is tough.
Re: Jayasuriya..... the glittering sun........ 20 years in International Cricket
That was 91.
Congratulations Sanath on completing 20 years in international cricket; a true legend of the game esp. one-dayers. One of the most humble and down-to-earth cricketers, never saw him arguing with umpires or players, always played the game in the right spiritā¦and a great interview below
http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/441226.html
Part 1
āWinning for Sri Lanka is what I enjoy the mostā
Twenty years into an extraordinary international career, Sanath Jayasuriya looks back at his humble beginnings and the people who made his rise possible
You made your international debut in the same ODI as Mark Taylor and Taylor retired 10 years ago. How have you kept going?
I retired from Test cricket recently to play ODIs a little bit longer. I have always enjoyed my cricket. Iām still enjoying it and Iāve worked hard on it. And I still want to perform. The sad thing is, I donāt know whether the Sri Lankan cricket board is even aware that Iām completing 20 years today!
**Where do you get your hunger to perform? **
That has come naturally. I know how hard it was for me to come into the Sri Lankan side. I was just a normal person, coming from a poor background. We did not have anything. I know how hard that life was. So once I started to play for the country, I understood I had to work harder and play longer. I never had anything to play with when I started cricket in school. I never thought I would play for Sri Lanka. I had never heard about any cricketer who had come from a village like mine, Matara.
My mother was very strict when I was starting seriously with cricket because we couldnāt afford anything. My father was the only breadwinner then - he worked as a health supervisor in the townās urban council. So it was a very tough life for me and my elder brother Chandana. But our school principal, GL Galappathi, was very supportive and he encouraged and pushed me to play cricket and even convinced my parents to allow me to chase my dreams.
I started at Under-11 and moved up the ladder. Luckily I was selected for the U-19 World Cup in Australia and thatās when I was noticed.
**Exactly how difficult was it? **
I had to travel to Colombo and back, which took at least four hours by bus one way. I would get back only at midnight. But that is where I cultivated that hunger to play hard, to perform, to stay fit. I cannot relax even now. Since I was coming from outside the Colombo circle, the only way to break through into the Sri Lanka set-up was to be an outstanding performer.
When I was going to the U-19 World Cup, all the boys at the school collected funds and gave it to me as pocket money. I can never forget that gesture.
My mother, Breeda, was the main pillar of the household. She pushed all the men in the family and instilled in us the belief that if we worked hard, we could achieve anything. That helped me a lot.
When I came back from the U-19 World Cup, my school - and later U-11 - coach Lionel Wagasinghe helped me get a small job at the company he was working in. It was a company manufacturing corrugated cartons and I worked there for two years.
**In the early part of your career which do you think was the innings that announced your arrival? **
It came during the Sri Lanka B tour of Pakistan in 1989, where I started off with a century followed by consecutive double-hundreds in the second half of the series.
**Who were the people that influenced your life and career? **
One of the two people I can never forget was Mr Dafter, who was a neighbour in Matara. From 1989 to 1997 he allowed me to stay in a spare room in his house [in Colombo]. He and his wife were like my foster parents.
The other was his friend Lalit Wanagasinghe. Those guys always pushed me and believed I would one day play for Sri Lanka. Coming from a small town to a big city like Colombo, one could easily lose oneās way, but these two took good care of me and always gave me good advice. They would come and watch me play, and discuss cricket at the house later in the night. For the last 20 years, both of them have always picked me up from the house and escorted me to the Sri Lankan cricket board office each time Iāve gone there before every tour.
I learned a lot from Roshan Mahanama. He was a very neat guy whose house was always in order. That helped me a lot when I started my international cricket. I guess it taught me a thing or two about discipline.
Then there were the Ranatunga brothers, Arjuna and Sanjeeva. They took good care of me by offering me a place to stay in their house before I moved in with Mr Dafter. The Ranatunga family always took good care of outstation players and many have been thankful for their generosity.
**Do you remember the moment when you got your first call-up into the Sri Lankan team? **
I was in the house with Mr Dafter. The selectors were picking the squad for the 1989-90 series in Australia. I knew they were meeting at eight in the morning, and I was restless. Finally, at one in the afternoon, Mr KM Nelson, then the secretary of the board, called to say I had been picked. I could not believe it. Since it was going to be a long tour, the general thought was two wicketkeepers would be picked, but they had decided to go with one specialist, with Hashan [Tillkaratne] as the makeshift keeper in case there was need, opening up a slot for me.
**You were a lower-order batsman when you came into the team. But then you started opening in the mid-90s. How did that come about? **
The decision was taken by the team management: our coach Dav Whatmore, Arjuna, Aravinda de Silva, and Duleep Mendis, the teamās manager.
The idea was to play the first 15 overs as the last 15. Till then I was batting at No. 6 or 7, where I couldnāt do much, especially as I went in to bat around the 40-45 overs mark. I felt I was being wasted. So Arjuna said that I should open as Roshan [Mahanama] was injured during the first three ODIs of the 1994 home series against Pakistan. It was a successful move. I got three fifties in a row in those three matches.
A year later I started opening with Kalu [Romesh Kaluwitharana] in Australia. He, too, had by then got promoted and both of us gelled instantly.
How big a role did Kaluwitharana play in your success as an opener?
He played a big role. When he got going, he made things easier for me at the other end. He could hit the ball very hard, played all the shots. He was really talented and made batting look easy. He was as confident as me. I remember he failed for 20 innings once, but Arjuna gave him the chance, knowing he was a match-winner.
**That Australia series in 1995-96 proved to be a turning point for you. **
Yes. I got runs as an opener and also started to open in Tests. I also scored my first Test hundred [in Adelaide]. I was really happy to get a century against such a good bowling attack, which included Shane Warne. It was scored under pressure against one of the best Test teams in the world. When you do that you get a nice feeling in your system.
That tour also changed Sri Lankan cricket, didnāt it?
It was a turning point. There was that whole chucking controversy about Murali, which we fought through the tour; but at the same time we did well. By the time we had finished that tour we were a real strong unit - and this was on the eve of the 1996 World Cup. We supported each other, we wanted everybody to do well. And then we won the World Cup. After that we started getting more opportunities to play international cricket. I remember we played something like 11 Test matches that year [1997] and I scored more than 1000 runs. It was a unique moment in our cricketing history.
All that Arjuna said was: Weāll have to do well, weāll have to work hard, whatever happens. He backed Murali wholeheartedly, to the brink. He even risked suspension at one point. When we saw that, it gave us confidence. And we never looked back.
**Did you need to change your technique to play as an opener? **
I donāt have the best technique as an opener, but I have worked really hard for 11-12 years. In those years the regular openers, like Marvan [Atapattu], were technically correct. But I understood clearly that I was an attacking batsman, so my role was different even as an opener.
**It must have been helpful to have the support of Arjuna and Whatmore? **
Sri Lanka became a professional unit only after Whatmore came. Alex Kontouris, the physio, was another man who brought in a big and immediate change, because he put in place a system for training and physical fitness.
Dav would pay individual attention, talk to the player and give him confidence. Naturally we fell into the professional way of thinking steadily. He always encouraged us to play our own game. āIf you see the first ball for four, just hit it. Donāt worry about anything, weāll back you.ā
Arjuna would tell me not to worry even if I got out on the first ball, or be afraid of getting dropped. That is the most important thing for a captain to do, to encourage a player. If he doesnāt give the player the confidence, he will be in two minds.
To cite an example: I am going through a lean patch right now. If Arjuna was the captain he would have given me confidence. He understood I am an attacking player and so there is always a chance of failing. If the player doesnāt find support, he will find it difficult to perform. It is important for the management to give the player that confidence.
Give us an example of a time when you were failing and Arjuna backed you.
On the 1998 tour of England I was miserable and was consistently failing. But even before the only Test, at The Oval, Arjuna still had faith in me. I scored a double-hundred, which was a match-winning performance. He knew I could perform on the big occasion.
You are 40 now. What keeps you going?
I donāt want to prove anything. The only thing that I want to prove is: if I can win a match for Sri Lanka, that is what I enjoy the most. Every time I play a match I want to give my 110%. I might get dropped tomorrow, I might not play the next tournament, but I will work hard, train hard, and Iāll show them with the bat and ball. There is no point talking, no point criticising anyone.
Re: Jayasuriya..... the glittering sun........ 20 years in International Cricket
a true legend
Jayasuriya changed the course of the one-day game during the 1996 World Cup with his big hitting in the first 15 overs..
Part 2
āIād like to play for another six monthsā
Jayasuriya on his immediate goals, the captains and coaches heās played under, his favourite opposition and his best innings
**Moving on to the 1996 World Cup - can you talk about the knock against India in Delhi? **
The Delhi match was unique. When India got 275, we never expected to win. But once Kalu [Romesh Kaluwitharana] and I went after the new ball, India didnāt know what was going on. My 79 came off 76 balls. It was one of the best things in that tournament, when we chased that target easily. The highlight for me was getting a lot of runs against [Manoj] Prabhakar. We made 50 in the first four overs and most of the runs I made against Prabhakar. He was one of the most difficult bowlers I faced early in my career because of the swing he could get. But on that day I felt really nice and I didnāt want to stop.
**What about the 82 against England in the quarter-final? **
That was a must-win match. In the team meeting I raised a concern about never having faced [Phil] DeFreitas, and said I might find it difficult. Arjuna just said, āDonāt worry about the names, just go out and hit.ā
**Which are your best innings in Tests and ODIs? **
In ODIs, the 189 in Sharjah against India remains the best. The next best was the 152 at Headingley, where we were chasing 322, which we got to in less than 40 overs. In Test cricket, the 213 at The Oval in 1998] will always remain at the top, followed closely by the 148 against South Africa in Galle in 2000, where I nearly got a hundred in one session.
**Interesting that you do not mention the 340 in the 1997 Test series against India. After that knock Sachin Tendulkar said, āI have not seen Don Bradman bat, but I have seen Sanath Jayasuriya. I have not seen a better batsman in my cricketing careerā¦ā **
I do rate that innings very highly because I was under a lot of pressure as an opening batsman. I do remember the appreciation from Tendulkar. He is legend.
**What is it about Tendulkar that stands out for you? **
He is very calm, cool, and a pleasant character. It is an unbelievable experience to play alongside him in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians. His only message to me always has been āKeep enjoying and playing your game.ā The one ability I would like from Tendulkar is the way he treats every player in the team the same. He understands there is no one special as that will hurt the other players. That and his calm demeanour.
**Murali is another individual who has been around as long as you. What is it that makes him special? **
He is a very hardworking guy, despite having gone through a rougher time than any other cricketer in this world. The outsiders always had a different attitude towards him but he took everything in his stride and became the worldās No.1 bowler. His whole-hearted attitude is amazing. What I have always admired about Murali is how he is always willing to support new young players: he points out to them how hard it is to be an international cricketer and how difficult it is to be in that position for a long period. He loves to share his insights.
**Where would you place him in Sri Lankanās cricket history? **
Murali without doubt occupies an important place in our countryās history. But Arjuna and Aravinda worked hard to bring him to the important position he is in today in world cricket.
**Tell us a bit about Aravinda. **
I rate Aravinda as the best batsman ever produced by Sri Lanka. If he wanted, he could get a hundred anytime he wished, in any match, against any opposition. Not everyone can do that. In no time he could race to a half-century - that was the beauty of Aravinda. He was very useful in my early cricketing life and I am glad I met him, Arjuna [Ranatunga], [Roshan] Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan [Tillakaratne] - these five were the main pillars of Sri Lankaās World Cup success in 1996.
**Who are the batsmen you have enjoyed watching? **
When my cricket career started, Viv Richards was on his way out of the game but he was still a delight and I loved watching him. Then came Aravinda, Brian Lara, Tendulkar, and now there is Virender Sehwag. All these have different methods to their art.
**What is the difference in cricket in the 1990s and in this decade? **
The game now is different. There is more technology, and the way players approach the game is different. The bowlers have a better grasp of the batsmanās weaknesses and strengths, and the batsman is more aware about where the bowler is going to pitch. In one way it is more difficult now. But also, you cannot say that as a batsman I had an advantage in the 1990s.
**Who were the most difficult bowlers to face? **
Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne - each one of them was a difficult bowler. You canāt find those bowlers now.
**Recently asked who he would fancy taking on between Warne and Murali, Tendulkar said he would like to sit in the dressing room and watch them. What about you? **
It is a difficult question and you cannot force me to pick one. But I would pick Murali in my team because he has a lot of variety and can bowl a lot of overs.
**Earlier you said that technically you donāt rate yourself highly, but that you trust your aggressive instincts. Can you explain your method of attack? **
It came naturally. I was always an attacking cricketer. I never practised anything specific, but when I became an opener I needed to adjust my technique a little as I had to play straighter. One important thing that has played a big role in my success is hand-eye coordination. If the ball is in my zone, I will always go after it - I might get out, but I might also get runs. Out of 10 attempts I might get eight shots to the boundary while getting out once or twice. I did not pick on specific bowlers. I would chase every bowler. If you want to succeed you need to take those risks.
**How do you switch on and off in the middle? **
I rarely switch off when I am batting or bowling. I always focus on what Iām doing. I only switch off during the over breaks.
**Paul Farbrace, the former Sri Lankan assistant coach, once said that in the game against Bangladesh at the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa, the first ball you faced, you hit in the air and were caught. You came back to the dressing room and said, āSorry, coach.ā **
As an opening batsman, I had to get some runs. People had expectations from me. So I had to apologise. I do attach a lot of meaning and importance to my wicket, because if I had batted for longer, things would have been different. But having got out in the first over I had put pressure on my team. Thatās why, as I said earlier, I will always go for my shots and sometimes I might not pull it off.
**What about captaincy? Were you ready for it when it came? **
Frankly, I had no idea. I had returned from the 1999 World Cup in England without any runs 82 in five games]. Four or five days after our return, Sidath Wettimuny, who had become the chairman of the selectors, called me at 11 in the night to inform me Iād been appointed captain. I was shocked. There were many other senior players who could have easily been appointed ahead of me. But Wettimuny said the seniors would support me. The main reason given was they wanted to groom me for the future, and since I was playing well I was ready for the job. My biggest challenge was handling the senior players - Arjuna, Aravinda, Mahanama, Hashan. In fact, Mahanama might have expected to become captain, but he took it in his stride. The selectors wanted Arjuna and Aravinda to only play Test cricket, as they wanted to reinvigorate the ODI side, focusing on agility and athleticism in our fielding. So the emphasis was on youth. But when our middle order was not up to the mark, I suggested to the selectors that Aravinda be brought back if he could become fitter, which he did, and it worked for a while. I did my job for four years and then stepped down after Sri Lanka had reached the 2003 World Cup semi-finals. I enjoyed my stint. I didnāt have an easy time as a batsman when I was captain, but I steadily started to get runs, and Sri Lanka started winning consistently. After the tour of Sharjah in 2003 I decided on my own to step down. I thought somebody else needed to take over.
**Today you are in a position similar to the one your seniors were, where your position in the side is not secure. How do you deal with the challenge? **
I am always happy. I know as long as Iām fit, Iām pro-active in the field and can hold catches, Iām still a contender. I am going through a lean patch with the bat for the moment, but I am not worried. I know my form will be back soon. Meanwhile I am fine-tuning in other areas, which will keep me busy as well as prepared.
**Which teams have you enjoyed playing against? **
India and Australia are highly rated teams and I have always wanted to score against these two. One innings against Australia I forgot to mention was 114 in 2006 in an ODI at the SCG. I had landed in Sydney the previous day and was coming back from injury. The flight was about 20 hours, but I went straight in and played my game. When you play the Aussies they are always tough, and when you score against them it always feels good.
**What is your fitness routine? **
In addition to the schedule given by the trainer, I do some extra work in physical training, weights, and then the rehab [from injury]. That has helped me stay fit for such a long time. That and the fact that I have always tried to be the best in whatever I do.
**You are supposed to be highly superstitious. What are your must-dos? **
I touch a spot on my helmet and both my pads before every ball. And after hitting a four or a six I have a habit of going to the middle of the pitch and tapping it. These are just habits I picked up as a youngster.
**Does being religious help you? **
Iāve followed the Buddhist philosophy for long. But I have also gone to Hindu temples, and churches. Each time I pray I just ask for happiness, and to become a mentally stronger person. In recent years I have started meditating a lot and that helps me keep cool when I make my decisions.
**During the 2007 World Cup final you did not hit a six in your knock of 63. Was that a conscious decision? **
I wanted to win that final. Oh, how I dearly wanted that second World Cup medal. Unfortunately Adam Gilchrist spoilt my occasion with his breathtaking innings. As for not hitting the sixes, the Aussie bowlers probably didnāt bowl balls I could have taken advantage of. But I must take this occasion to thank Tom Moody and Trevor Penney, the coaches then, who put in a lot of effort to help Sri Lanka.
**How did your coaches help you personally? **
Dav made us the professional as Iāve already mentioned. Bruce Yardley helped me, and the other spinners, with his tactics. Just like Dav, Tom always gave personal attention to every player. He would push a youngster to the limit and make him train harder. Most youngsters performed when Tom was there.
Personally, I have always felt really nice whenever the coach speaks to me. It doesnāt matter if I have played 400 or 500 matches, Iām still susceptible to mistakes. It is always about getting the little things right and it helps you if the coach can point them out. Tom did that. Farbrace did that. Whatmore was the first.
**What have been the most difficult times in your career? **
There have been quite a few. But of late, when I was dropped just before the 2007 World Cup and then before the first IPL, I felt hurt. I scored a hundred and many runs in that IPL and one of the government ministers pitched in and convinced the selectors that I needed to be in the side. So I came back during the Asia Cup in Pakistan. I made two centuries and a couple of half-centuries and felt good once again.
**You have played under various captains. Could you highlight what each one stood for or helped you with? **
Arjuna always fought for the players and looked after them, and that is why the players always liked him. Marvan [Atapattu] was straightforward in getting the message to the players and I respected him for that. If he backed a player, he would back him 100%. During his captaincy years I went through a very hard period as a batsman and there was a lot of media pressure to drop me, but he stuck to me and I can never forget that. I rated Mahela [Jayawardene] very highly as a captain too.
**You recently said āI just canāt think of a life without cricketā. **
What I meant was cricket is my life. If I did not play cricket, my life would be empty. Even if I leave the game tomorrow, Iām happy because I did my part. I sacrificed many things, trained really hard, practised really hard, to come this position. But I know I canāt carry on forever. That is why I left Test cricket, and the same would hold for the rest of my cricket. Iām not saying Iām going to play another few more years, but I would like to play for the next six or eight months. I will play hard and then would like to leave.
**Whatās the biggest challenge for you now? **
The biggest is to play the 2011 World Cup. Before that, the first challenge is to come out of this lean phase with the bat. I know Sri Lanka are likely to play about 30 ODIs before the World Cup, but I am not thinking that far. I am only thinking of five ODIs at a time, and if I can perform in three out those five, Iām right on track for the next World Cup. I am trying. Obviously if the team management wants to send me a message they should be clear about that to me, as they have been in the past.
Re: Jayasuriyaā¦ the glittering sunā¦ 20 years in International Cricket
Definitely one of sub-continentās cricketing greats :k:
He single handedly changed the ODI cricket.His aggressive cricket during the first 15 overs has set a new challenge for the bowlers and provided a spectacle for the cricket lovers all over the world.He is definitely a legend.It is a shame that Sl board didn't give much respect to his achievments in his 20th year.
After Wasim Akrem Asia's biggest match winner in limited version of game, unquestionably. A Great!!
And Sachin,but i am not surprised u excluded him.
Re: Jayasuriya..... the glittering sun........ 20 years in International Cricket
^ He said match-winner. :p
^ He said match-winner. :p
So the man who has the maximum number of MOM awards in ODIs is not a match winner.
Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the greatest batsmen. Treat to watch him bat. Good luck in future Sanath.