Putting all speculations regarding his international career to rest, Sri Lankan batting giant Kumar Sangakkara has confirmed that he will be retiring during the Test series against India, which is scheduled to be held in August this year. Sangakkara, who is 37 years old now, was quoted by cricket.com.au saying that, "This is my time to call it a day."
According to various media reports, the veteran Sri Lankan will play the first two Tests of the three-match series against India. Interestingly, the dates and venues are yet to be announced, so we might be in a Sachin Tendulkar-like situation wherein the Sri Lankan legend might be asked by the cricket board where he wants to end his illustrious career. But, these are all speculations as of now, and nothing can be confirmed, apart from the fact that Sangakkara is indeed calling it a day.
It has also been learnt that the elegant left-hander will not be part of the third and final Test of the ongoing series against Pakistan at home. The second Test of the series is evenly poised as of now, with Pakistan recovering well on day three, and trailing Sri Lanka merely by six runs. Sangakkara, however, hasn’t been at his fluent best in the series, registering scores of 50, 18 and 34 so far in three innings.
Irrespective of how his career folds up, Sangakkara will be remembered as an all-time great. Having made his Test debut back in 2000, he has thus far amassed 12,035 runs from 132 matches at a sensational average of 58.3. The numbers are even more spectacular for these runs include 38 hundreds and 52 half-centuries.
A man with a penchant for big scores, Sangakkara has as many as ten 10 double-centuries to his credit, and one triple hundred to his credit. To add to those extraordinary numbers, he was left stranded on 199 during a Test at Galle in June 2012.
Sangakkara’s greatness can be gauged from the fact that no batsman who has played the game for a significant amount of time since Don Bradman, who averaged almost 100, has managed such a high average (58.3).
Incredibly, Sangakkara not only possesses a Test averages of over 40 against every Test playing nation, but also has to his credit a century against every opposition he has taken on in the five-day game, another unique feat.
Sangakkara has been hugely successful both at home and abroad although his average at home is slightly higher, but that is expected with an decent cricketer. For the record, Sangakkara averaged 62.2 at home, and 53.1 away. As Test captain, Sangakkara scored seven Test centuries averaging nearly 70.
Although he has decided to call time on his international career, he is likely to take part in domestic T20 competitions like IPL and the Big Bash League, where he will be representing Hobart Hurricanes next season.
--By A Cricket Correspondent