Mahela captain, batsman par excellence

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from India

In 2007 he lifted the team into a new dimension as Sri Lanka ended as the runners-up in the summit clash in the Caribbean. He led from the front as a good captain and more importantly he stood out as a batsman par excellence.

Four years later Mahela Jayawardena is still in the reckoning and is even more hungry for runs as he hopes to give Sri Lanka that elusive ICC World Cup title for the second time.

He missed out the opportunity last time having reached the final following some splendid performances as a batsman. Incidentally he was the second highest run getter in that tournament with a total of 548 runs. This time of course he has got rid of the burden of captaining the side but yet Jayawardena is a vital link in the Sri Lankan team.

This was very much clear in the crucial semi-final match against New Zealand where he came out as a runner to help the injured Angelo Mathews who ultimately carried the team towards victory along with Thilan Samaraweera.

The advice and the expertise from a player in the calibre of Mahela Jayawardena certainly did a lot of wonders as the two batsmen at the crease managed to execute the plan to perfection and to win the match at the end.

The vice captain of the Sri Lankan team is now looking forward towards a successful final outing against India and has a great chance of fulfilling his dream of winning a World Cup.

His hopes were shattered to a certain extent in 2007 and once again he has reached a situation where his team is just one step away from climbing the Mount Everest in one day cricket.

Jayawardena is fully aware that unlike in 2007 the present team is packed with some attacking stroke-makers who could explode at any moment while giving the side more options in their approach towards building up a match winning total.

Jayawardena knows that he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders and is keen to be prepared both mentally and physically with the correct attitude and a positive approach to this high profile final encounter.

The elegant right hander of course was one of the leading run getters among the overseas players in the previous Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. But Jayawardena always takes pride in representing his country and performing well to his fullest satisfaction.

"The IPL is going to be after the World Cup what has happened to me is great personally. This is Sri Lanka and playing for my country is the most important thing for me. The World Cup final is my focus nothing is going to change that attitude".

In fact Jayawardena has even opened the batting for his country in One Day Internationals and has proved his potential to bat at any given opportunity. Even then he always enjoys batting at number four at which point he has scored over 9000 runs for his team.

"I have always enjoyed batting at number four. It has been a great challenge but wherever the team asks me to bat I will bat. We play as a team not as individuals so whatever the team requires of me I will respond."

"There needs to be a bridge between the top order and the middle order. That's my job and hopefully I can execute that to the best of ability in the World Cup final against India." There is no doubt that Mahela Jayawardena is a great motivator and the entire team is fully aware that he could lift the morale of the side with a good batting performance.

"The morale and the passion in the Sri Lankan team has been the same. I have been with the team now for nearly 13 years nothing has changed.

We have improved as a team and we have carried forward the responsibility the past generation has given to us. And hopefully we can take it much further and take that extra step to the next level."

Jayawardena started off the World Cup in style by smashing a century against Canada at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambanthota. He went through a series of low scores before regaining his form in the final league match against New Zealand.

In fact that contribution of 66 runs from 90 deliveries will certainly give Jayawardena an inspiration with the World Cup final match against India coming up at the same venue.

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The fact file:

Full name: Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene

Born: May 27, 1977

Current age: 33 years

Major teams: Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Asia XI, Kings XI Punjab, Sinhalese Sports Club, Wayamba

Playing role: Batsman

Batting style: Right-hand bat

Bowling style: Right-arm medium

World Cup span: 1999-2011

World Cup matches: 32, Innings: 28, Not Outs: 2,

Runs: 872, Highest score: 115,

Average: 33.53, 100s: 2, 50s: 5

One Day Internationals: 340, Innings: 318, Not outs: 33,

Runs: 9320,

Highest score: 128, Average: 32.70, 100s: 13, 50s: 56

Landmarks: Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2007