Jayasuriya - the unsung hero

Elmo Rodrigopulle

Sanath Jayasuriya announcing his retirement from Test Cricket during the First Test against England at the Asgiriya Stadium has been received with mixed feelings. Many cricket fans calling in, reckoned that he should have been allowed to finish the remaining Two Tests against England and then quit.

The callers were convinced that there was a lot more cricket in Jayasuriya, the manner in which he flayed the England bowling in the second innings, and how he bludgeoned paceman James Anderson hitting him for six fours in an over.

And what is mystifying in Jayasuriya's retirement is that it is not a decision that he makes, but it is apparent that others bring pressure to bear on him to draw stumps. This is not the first time that this has happened. Two cyclopic selectors some time back, forced him to announce his retirement which he did, but thanks to Asantha de Mel, the present chairman of selectors who prevailed on him to change his mind and come back, and what he did after coming back need not be reiterated.

That Jayasuriya is a living legend there is no doubt. From the time he sported Sri Lanka colours, he has been performing magnificently, firstly with the country at heart and then self.

Jayasuriya has been an example and a shining example at that and the manner in which he went was not befitting an outstanding allround cricketer of Jayasuriya's calibre. The manner in which he executed in the second innings, underlined that age is no barrier. He is so fit that he seems to be getting better with age.

It has now become the rule rather than the exception, that if Sri Lanka is to score then Jayasuriya must strike.

The present selectors led by Asantha de Mel have done a good and exemplary job. They will not be faulted, if they ask Jayasuriya to reconsider his decision and make himself available for the remaining Two Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club and at the Galle International Stadium.

And what better place it would be for Jayasuriya to quit than Galle. True he is from Matara but it is close to Galle.

And had he quit the game in Galle, being a proud son of the South, they would have given him a farewell fit for royalty.

But in announcing his retirement in Kandy, he went out an unsung hero, which was a sad end to a legend who turned the game on its head with his amazing batsmanship and gave hitherto unseen joy to spectators wherever he made his bat do the talking.

Over then to the cricket selectors.