England’s former Captain Alec http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stewart-c91370 praises Kumar Sangakkara’s performance in Rose Bowl Test – Cricket News Update
Former English wicketkeeper and captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779, in the third Test against England at Southampton, on June 20, 2011.
Kumar’s inning saved the visitors from being run-over by the belligerent English bowlers, who have been in splendid form all this season.
Speaking on the performance of the left-handed batsman, Stewart said “I've been very impressed with Sri Lanka's application, but until today they haven't played anything like what we expected from them. Sangakkara showed us why he is one of the greatest
players in the modern game, he's too good a player to have kept failing in England and that was a match-saving hundred.”
Before the third Test, Sangakkara was asked by the team management to lead the side in the final clash, after regular skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tillakaratne-Mudiyanselage-Dilshan-c93947, was ruled out of the match because of an injury to his thumb which he sustained during the second Test at
Lord’s.
Sangakkara, who was the captain of the Sri Lankan national team for two years, relinquished his captaincy after the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
After the tournament, Sangakkara felt that it was time for a younger guy to lead the team and prepare for the next world cup, scheduled to be played in 2015.
Meanwhile, his deputy, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Denagamage-Proboth-Mahela-de-Silva-Jayawardene-c53546 also resigned from his post and decided not to have any role in the policy making of the national team.
Sri Lanka cricket then chose the hard hitting opening batsman, Dilshan, to lead the team, however, his deputy was not announced for the English tour because of which, after mutual consensus, it was decided by the touring management to ask Sangakkara to lead
his team one last time.
According to insiders, initially the wicketkeeper/batsman did not want to take the leadership role, however, after deep thought, the cricketer decided to take the challenge for the sake of his country.
With one match down in the series after losing the first Test at Cardiff, it was vital for the tourists to avert a defeat at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rose-c86842 Bowl.
After scoring only two runs in the first innings, Sangakkara smacked a sensational innings of 119 runs in the second innings which helped the side in ending the match in a draw.
However, the series could not be levelled and was taken by the home side 1-0.
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