Sri Lanka hoping to give Kumar Sangakkara winning send-off

Kuldip Lal 05:12 20/08/2015
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  • Bowing out: Sangakkara.

    Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said it will be an emotional outing for the team as they prepare to say goodbye to Kumar Sangakkara, who will be playing his last match.

    The 37-year-old Sri Lankan great, who is the highest run-getter among those still playing at the top level, will bid adieu to international cricket after the match, ending a glorious 15-year career. Mathews, buoyed by a brilliant 63-run win in the first Test in Galle said the boys wanted to win the three-match series to give Sangakkara a suitable farewell.

    “This is obviously an emotional game for all of us,” Mathews said. “Sangakkara has not only been a great servant of the game, but he is a great human being too.

    “We can’t thank him enough for what he has done for Sri Lankan cricket and the team over the past so many years. It’s going to be a tough game for him as well emotionally. But all good things have to come to an end unfortunately.

    “The best we can do is try and win the game so that we win the series. That will be the best farewell for him. We are trying our best to do that. The boys are all well prepared. We trained extremely hard in the past two days, even though it rained yesterday (Tuesday), on all aspects of the game and we are ready to go.”

    Mathews then explained what Sangakkara meant for him as a cricketer and a team-mate.

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    “He is a player who gives others a lot of confidence. Although he is no longer the captain, every player goes to him for an opinion and he also points out the mistakes others make – bowler or batsman. The service he has rendered is beyond what words can describe.

    “Before I became captain, from the time I came into the Sri Lanka team, the help and advice that I have received from him I cannot weigh it in words. It is tremendous. On any occasion he is a person you can go to and get a genuine opinion.

    “We are sad that he is leaving us,” he concluded.

    On his part, Sangakkara will want to end an unusually barren streak at the P. Sara Oval where he has fallen for zero in each of his last three Tests, including a first-ball duck against Pakistan in June.

    Talking about the match, Mathews said Sri Lanka had the edge going into the second Test, but warned his team against taking victory for granted.

    “We have the edge because we pulled a rabbit out of the hat. But we have shoved the win in Galle under the carpet. We know we have to play good cricket again to win.”

    When asked about the young Indian team and its batsmen, Mathews said that it was unfair to expect them to perform as well as their predecessor like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

    “You are comparing the legends of the game with this young Indian team. When it comes to Sanga and Mahela there is a difference when it comes to our team as well. You can’t compare the Sachins, Dravids and Laxmans with the young Indian team.”

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