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by Ganeesha David

Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka's newest cricketing idol, has taken his partisans by storm. Excluding the female population, who have been endless in their adulation anyway, (for reasons even he finds baffling) there has been commendation and reverence pouring in from all quarters.

From the world media to the average housewife, he has acquired an unequivocal following. At every outing he is incessantly sort after by copious numbers of people; a constant trail of media or maidens awaiting his attention!

Such dominion? Such a mandate? How did someone this fresh on the scene command so much veneration?

The Sangakkara cricket saga is nothing legendary at the moment. Just bordering comfort zone with the gloves and maintaining a run-of- the- mill batting form, he has still managed to latch on to an entourage that is generally beholden of 'greatness' beyond face-value.

Intrigued, we set out to explore further by talking to the young hero. In his characteristically closed mouth manner of speaking, our probing questions were dealt with swiftly and to the point. Dashing and debonair, the language gushed out of him like a tap.

As slippery as an eel, he dithered and dodged the questions about himself and here's what we were allowed to pierce out of him.

At the tiny age of 11, he swept the badminton courts clean in the all island circuit of the game. Then pursuing tennis he once more dominated the national courts until at 16 he finally gave it up for his journey with cricket. Tennis, its apparent was the family game, his sister being a champion player for Sri Lanka. His sporting destiny though, it seems, lay elsewhere.

Not surprisingly he captained his alma mater in cricket throughout the years, bore the gloves and batted from number five to opening, receiving a Trinity Lion, a proud pedigree for the average Trinitian. Simultaneous to the sporting prowess, he has carried the mantel of head prefect and figured prominently at the helm of all activities of the school.

Perhaps the best kept secret we managed to unearth, is the celebrated 'Ryde'. Gold medal, a coveted trophy at Trinity College; elements of which, he was again reluctant to divulge. Further pestering had him murmuring that it is voted for by the entire senior student body and teachers and is presented to an 'all-round' student.

More scrutiny revealed that this medal is indeed illustrious and is never awarded unless there is a worthy recipient in the form of a most outstanding scholar and sportsman. Probably why he took a deep breath before answering.

Joining the Nondescripts Cricket Club in 97, he was picked for the Under 19 side vs India. In 1999 Sangakkara was on his way to big time cricket representing Sri Lanka 'A' to South Africa and back at home vs Zimbabwe 'A' in 2000, he broke into cracking form. His 156 not out in 140 balls at Moratuwa was heralded in an article of that time as 'a momentary state of batting nirvana'. In a television interview soon after, the young man presented himself eloquently, leaving the viewer astonished at his confidence, aura and command of the language. Thus the lad stamped his insignia on Sri Lanka cricket.

South Africa toured Sri Lanka in July 2000 and Mr Articulate made his debut grabbing the gloves from an out of form Kaluwitharana. On wing with the Lankan team to South Africa soon after, he scored an impressive 74 and in the 3rd test at centurion a herculean 98, batting right through the innings, which he chipped, 'was quite an achievement personaly'. He followed it up with an almost match saving 95 in Kandy vs the Englishmen, and sealed his place in the national side.

Concurrently, in the one day arena his performance was sporadic and a couple of out of form innings later, he was dropped in order to give way to others hovering in the fringes. Despite zooming with confidence, the spirited and high riding youngster, who was quipped to be Sri Lanka's latest feather in the cap, dented in certitude.

Self assessment and determination saw him come back well to quirk the selectors and occupy a seat in the dressing room. His first test century, a 105 in Galle vs India, was carefully crafted and unlike the potentially explosive Sangakkara.

Subsequent centuries of 140 vs the West Indies and 128 vs Zimbabwe at home, saw him slowly but surely crawl his way out of bad form and climb his way to the top of the table in the Lankan batting card. His 230 vs Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship is hailed as one of the best innings by a Sri Lankan on foreign soil. Given the conditions and the opposition we, insinuated that the 230 was, indeed the best by a Sri Lankan batsman. He begged to differ; "I wouldn't rate it that high".

Rubbing shoulders with some of his idols of not so long ago, his batting average of 53.00 at a point earlier on this year, stood him only behind Adam Gilchrist and Sachin Tendulkar. This is a rare feat and probably the rationale behind 'The Federation of International Cricketers Association' nominating him the most promising young player for the year 2001. It is no hallucination..

On the topic of him batting at number three vs the glove compartment; he confessed he quite enjoyed keeping wickets now, and claimed it 'no big deal' if one was young, strong and fit.

His seemingly compulsive batting slip-ups, he attributed to the lack of concentration, which he also put down as his biggest failing. Sangakkara emphasized in no uncertain terms the need to be mentally resilient, in order to survive in today's game of cricket.

According to him, his strategy for handling pressure, is not letting external factors like newspaper article or batting averages affect him. He claims he is happy batting in the one down slot, sighting it as a 'great position to build a total'.

Sangakkara was also full of praise for his captain, and was vociferous in his condemnation of people undermining the Jayasuirya captaincy. He alleged that the game in the middle and its complexities were quite different to what is observed off the field. Spoof to the arm-chair pundits who whine clear of the heat in the middle.

Talking about his grueling practice schedule, he claims he spends any spare time doing skill work such as batting on the bowling machine etc.

Encountering different conditions around the world Sangakkara voiced, is the daily bread of a cricketer's life. The piece de resistance of our escapade with him was his declaration that 'its important to concentrate on the things you can control and get them right without worrying about those you cannot.'

The wicket-keeper batsman asserted that there wasn't anyone in particular he idolized, but grew up watching masters, Sir Viv Richards and our own Aravinda De Silva and today has a tremendous respect for the likes of Brian Lara, Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar.

The latter he claims is one of the true greats cricket has had the benevolence to befriend.

Admitting like many before him that the monumental Wasim Akram is his most feared bowler, he blurted that the great man possesses an intimidation of a 'different' kind.

To lead or not to lead - In the latest cry for a new captain the juvenile had his name quoted alongside some significant others, to take over from Jayasuriya. There is viable proof that the silver-tongued sensation, is more than meets the eye. Holding his own, under any circumstances, the elegant left-hander gives the word 'panache' a new meaning. Living testimony to the adage 'leaders are born and not made'.

A square peg in a round hole; Sangakkara is bound to stick out in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket. To a direct question on the issue of captaincy the law-man summed it up immaculately for us, that 'the selection team had a job to do and he had his'. He was non chalant of the consensus to lay the captaincy on his shoulders.

Feet firmly planted on the ground the youth contended he was only interested in improving his performance as of now and contributing towards the team.

In a ploy to make him talk about himself, we asked him where his leadership qualities have and would come into play and what he thinks he can accomplish as a head; the articulate barrister to be, put me nicely in my place saying he would rather speak of what he has done than what he thinks he can do.

Unusual for a young person of this generation, its widely known he appreciates the world of books and being a student of law at the Colombo University (which rarely sees their most prestigious student) no doubt accounts for the quick tongue that lashed at the Englishmen on their tour of 2001, introducing a facade of belligerence in the local camp.

It had the English up in a smoke and his fellow countrymen titillating with glee. Naturally attired with no nonsense countenance, Sangakkara stood shoulder to shoulder with the veteran Michael Atherton and was not about to be intimidated by reputation or affluence.

Of course as is usual course, when a player from the sub-continent holds his ground, the English media went to town and he was reprimanded by the match referee and made eternal enemies of dear old blighty. On the next tour to the homeland of cricket, he threw in a punch at his old foe, fearlessly challenging the Englishmen. Much ado about nothing, as he would be the first to admit, but the underlined message was loud and clear, 'colonial days are over comrade, we are here to give you a fight'.

Never before had there been circumstances which encountered a sub-continent 'servant' walloping the 'master'.

In their latest sojourn in South Africa, Kumar Sangakkara who was straining at the seams to have his say, did exactly so. What transpired behind the stumps and into the mike is now well documented. Never before would a nation have felt so much pride in a son's ability to stand up and uproot the opposition with mere words.

The ceaselessly gushing innuendos were music to some of our ears and the impish grin announced he knew exactly the havoc he was causing. Even in the losing stages of the match, Sangakkara was clearly enjoying himself.

In the interview he was accommodating and thorough and though we were confronted with astute cross questioning and argumentative responses, we left there with the feeling of having encountered something 'eminent'. It is no hallucination; Kumar Sangakkara is on his way to become an icon of humungous proportions.

Woe betide, someday the poor 'witness' standing in the box. If your prosecution is Kumar Sangakkara, you are as good as convicted.

(Courtesy - srilankasports.com)

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