14 Monday 21st November, 2011

BY RAVI LADDUWAHETTY One cannot review all the which he covers the line and are two different types of bats- tion demanded. Other Sri Lankans in over 300 run Test matches that he has played plays close to his body, makes it men obviously, but they are a left Michelle Johnson has seldom ll Sri Lankans will be Test in, but looking the just concluded delightful to watch. and right hand combination bowled to him. A left handed proud that the Test series against Pakistan, and He is not a touch batsman Kumar is much more focused and bowler to a left handed batsman partnerships AInternational the manner in which he faced up and especially square on the off- relaxed and gets on top of the would make it much easier for Interestingly, there have been Council has yet again declared to Saeed Ajmal in all three Tests side, like most Sri Lankans. Any bowler. However, the essential dif- the batsman to read him. three other instances where Sri as the best was extremely laudable, especial- delivery, a trifle short of a length, ference is that Mahela is a touch Johnson struggled to bowl to Lankan batsmen have been fea- Test batsman in the world today! ly in the wake of the latter being he will caress the bowler square batsman and a little more tem- Kumar. tured in 300 runs plus Test part- To add another feather to the best off spinner in the world on the bat maker’s name on the peramental than Kumar. If I also have nostalgic memo- nerships. They are the 437 runs Sangakkara’s cap, South African- today. The way Kumar put his bat! Kumar misses a delivery outside ries of asking Johnson at the post put on by born and England captain turned front foot and the manner in Kumar also has an excellent the off stump, he will surely not match news conference on the and Thilan Samaraweera in the television commentator, Tony worry about the delivery that day that he took his ODI career 4th Test between Sri Grieg said that if he were to pick went beyond his bat, but will be best 6-31 was in the first ODI ver- Lanka and a World Cricket XI, his number assiduously concentrating on the sus Sri Lanka at Pallekelle, on Pakistan at one batsman would be Kumar next delivery. August 10, as to which batsman Karachi on Feb. Sangakkara! 21, 2009, which International cricket icons – was in the Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid 1909th Test, the and Jaques Kallis may feel hurt 351 run partner- over this, but Tony has made this ship between point abundantly clear. Mahela Jayawardene and Global cricketing benchmarks Prasanna Why Sanga is the best What is well known is that Jayawardene for the Kumar Sangakkara (287) holds sixth wicket between the joint record for the highest Sri Lanka and India at partnership for any wicket of Ahmedabad on Nov. 16, 624 runs in the history of Test 2009, in the 1933rd Test cricket with Mahela and the 335 partner- Jayawardene (374), against South Test batsman in ship between Marvan Africa at the SSC on July 27, 2006, Atapattu and Sanath in the overall 1810th Test. Jayasuriya in the But what most cricket lovers first Test between would not know is that Sri Lanka against Sangakkara was also associated Pakistan at Asgiriya, with the seventh highest ever on June 28, 2000, in the the world today partnership in Tests with the 438 1502nd Test. runs he put on with then skipper Marvan Atapattu (now his bat- ting coach) against Zimbabwe at Kumar, Bulawayo on May 14, 2004 which composed of late he feared the most; he said in one was the 1699th Test. Kumar’s of Opposition bowlers struggle go, “Kumar Sangakkara.” The other records between late, is very composed; The essential difference The other was Sachin Ramesh Kumar’s highest ever with the hallmark of his bat- between the two is that Kumar Tendulkar! Mahela of 624 runs which ting is that he gets his moves his feet quickly, while Of course, Johnson was a runs on both sides of the eclipsed the then highest of 576 Mahela takes a little more time. diplomat! He said afterwards that wicket. However, he is not flaw- One of the other laudable factors runs between two fellow Sri it could be any other batsman Lankans and less. He has had soft dismissals about Kumar’s batting was the who was good on that particular Roshan Mahanama in the second more often than others in the top manner in which he got on top of Test against India at the bracket. But those are the the fast bowlers in England. He day! When I asked him how it felt Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium areas that he does not play stroke faced them well. He struggled at like to be in the company of on Aug 2, 1997 which was the with soft hands, but often, where he times, but got a Test hundred. He Glenn McGrath (7-15), Andy 1374th Test, were: the 467 runs when he plays with the clips the ball played well behind the swinging Bichell (7-20) and Gary Gilmour bottom hand and pays off the pads for put on by Andrew Jones and deliveries. He was always a threat (6-14), as among Australia’s most the ultimate penalty of deliveries which Martin Crowe in the third Test to Chris Tremlett. wicket taking ODI bowlers, he for New Zealand against Sri either being caught at are pitched There was Tim Bresnan who said that he was elated! Lanka at Wellington on January short extra cover or between middle found it very difficult to bowl to 31, 1991, which was the 1162nd caught and bowled by and leg, which is Kumar. James Anderson might Trent Copeland was also Test, the 451 put on by Sir the bowler. These errors awesome to watch. also tell you that Kumar was the impressive during Australia’s Donald George Bradman and Bill also creep in. The other pleasing fac- most feared batsman to whom he tour of Sri Lanka, but struggled Ponsford, in the second Test for What is admirable is tor is that he ensures has bowled to. against Kumar, as Kumar studied the manner in which he most of the time that the Australia versus England at the Kumar has the patience and the pace and the swing, taking composes his innings. He correct stroke is offered to Oval on August 18, 1934, which the temperament to get behind into consideration that he was was the 137th Test, the 451 put on is one of the few players the correct delivery. In the delivery. Some might often one of the quickest in the world by Mudassar Nazar and Javed to get to 9000 Test runs other words, very few of wonder whether he is the left today. Kumar used his feet Miandad in the third Test for fast. That itself bears elo- his critiques could say handed version of Aravinda De Pakistan against India at quent testimony to this bating that his stroke selection Silva, both one drop batsmen. immaculately. But he may not Hyderabad on January 14, 1983, prodigy. The fact that he has 27 was bad. That is due to Kumar has faced all the front- have the flamboyance of a Brian which was the 946th Test and the Test hundreds and his growing stature as line bowlers in the world in mod- Lara. a batsman. 446 runs put on by Sir Garfield of them ern day cricket. Just look at the Kumar is a role model for eight dou- Both Kumar and (Gary) St. Auburn Sobers and way he faced up to Umar Gul and youngsters for the manner in Conrad Gregory Hunte in the ble hun- Mahela Junaid Khan. The latter had a which he plays the forward second Test for the West Indies dreds, Jayawardene have problem bowling to him, where defense stroke, or the manner in versus Pakistan at Kingston on proves spent consider- Kumar was stepping off his pads February 26, 1958, which was the that he able periods of more often than not. which he gets behind the shorter 1699th Test match. has the time at the The English bowlers also delivery and how he plays off the Kumar is also placed 45th tem- Kumar Sangakkara wickets and struggled. The Aussies, especially back foot, his elbow, the way he along with Mahela in the all time pera- they com- the seamers, Ryan Harris, got the turns the full face of the bat. He ment plement highest partnerships list when better of Kumar on more than a has been the highest run scorer to occu- each few occasions in Sri Lanka, they put on 311 versus in the Pakistan series and he has Bangladesh at Asgiriya on July py the other. where he was caught at deep been judged as the Number One 11th 2007, which was the 1839th crease Why? The square leg. But when he was Test. for long answer is aware of the strategies adopted Test batsman in world cricket periods. simple. They by Harris, he batted as the situa- today. Americans win 4th straight Presidents Cup

BY DOUG FERGUSON Internationals in this lopsided n’t always get rewarded with a could take a victory lap back here. series. point. In his singles match against But we didn’t get off to a good start MELBOURNE, Australia Perhaps it was only fitting that Aaron Baddeley,he was never seri- early. I was telling Joey (LaCava, (AP) — The Americans returned Tiger Woods clinched the cup for ously challenged. his caddie) on the range, ‘It’s prob- Down Under and this time wound the second straight time. Woods closed out Baddeley, 4 ably going to come down to the last up on top in the Presidents Cup. U.S. captain Fred Couples was and 3, and the celebration was on. four matches.’ We needed to get Jim Furyk became the fourth criticized for using a pick on The only left was for Steve Stricker our point, so we went out there and player to win all five of his match- Woods, who had been out with an in the anchor match to beat Y.E. played really well today and put a es, and the bottom half of the line- injury most of the season and had Yang for the final score, 19-15. lot of heat on Badds.” up was strong enough Sunday to not won since his personal life “I was hoping it wasn’t going to Couples said Woods was ready give the Americans their fourth crumbled two years ago. Woods come down to us,” Woods said. “I to go all week at Royal Melbourne. straight win over the played well all week, even if he did- was hoping that Stricks and I

Djokovic has already compiled sixth time in a final this season. Djokovic plays down what is widely regarded as one of “It has been the best year of the best seasons ever in men’s ten- my career and I’m definitely nis. He has a 69-4 record and has proud of what I’ve achieved so fitness worries for won 10 titles, including three far,” Djokovic said. “But it’s still Grand Slams. He went unbeaten not over and I have a very impor- until June in a run of 41 straight tant event to be a part of and I try wins. to do my best for the next week. ATP Finals For the 19th and last tourna- “Everybody wants to finish ment of a hectic year, Djokovic is the season in great style.” back in London, the scene of his Speaking on Friday, Rafael BY CAROLINE CHEESE against Tomas Berdych on most precious win at Wimbledon. Nadal and Roger Federer both Monday. “I was even thinking of going said it would be difficult for LONDON (AP) — His body “I have been serving at 100 to Wimbledon for a cup of tea, as Djokovic to maintain such high creaking after a stellar season, percent in the last two or three a member you know,” he said. standards in 2012, while Murray Novak Djokovic insisted Saturday days,” Djokovic said. “For me the “It’s the most prestigious, the he is fit enough for a shot at his shoulder is fine at this moment. I most valuable event you can think said Saturday that repeating a 11th title of the year. can say it is recovered and it is of in our sport in my opinion and year like that “just doesn’t hap- The No. 1-ranked Djokovic ready to compete.” I think a lot of players would pen in sport.” withdrew from the Paris Masters Andy Murray and David agree. “It’s like Barcelona in foot- quarterfinals last week with a Ferrer make up the rest of “That was the tournament I ball,” Murray said. “It’s the best shoulder injury that has blunted Djokovic’s group, while Roger always dreamed of winning.” team but to win back to back Indian cricketer after accepting the CEAT Match his late-season form. Federer, Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried After Wimbledon, he went on Champions Leagues, even though Winning Innings of the Year award in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Nov. 19, He said he would be ready for Tsonga and Mardy Fish compete to win the U.S. Open, beating you’re the best team, it’s so tough, 2011. The awards were based on the performances of international his opening match at the season- in the other group starting Rafael Nadal, the player who the margins are so small. A lot of cricketeres as rated by the CEAT Cricket ratings (CCR) for the year ending ATP World Tour Finals Sunday. started the year on top, for the things have to go your way.” 2010-2011. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)