'If Arjuna was the captain he would have given me confidence' - Jayasuriya
December 26th, 2009 marks 20 years of international cricket for Sanath Jayasuriya. He made his international debut against Australia at Melbourne on December 26, 1989.
The 40 year old Lankan legend spoke with Cricinfo's Nagraj Gollapudi about his humble beginnings, his tough rise to the top, and his present loss of form.
In a move to perhaps send a message to his current skipper, Jayasuriya touched twice on Ranatunga's captaincy.
First when he mentioned Kaluwitharana's loss of form, "I remember he [Kaluwitharana] failed for 20 innings once, but Arjuna gave him the chance, knowing he was a match-winner," Jayasuriya told Cricinfo.
Later, as an example, he spoke of how Arjuna Ranatunga would deal with his recent miserable streak with the bat.
"I am going through a lean patch right now. If Arjuna was the captain he would have given me confidence. He understood I am an attacking player and so there is always a chance of failing. If the player doesn't find support, he will find it difficult to perform. It is important for the management to give the player that confidence."
Jayasuriya recalled how Ranatunga's firm faith in him, despite a series of bad performances, had helped him score a Test match winning double hundred in England in 1998.
It's no secret that In recent times Sanath Jayasuriya has struggled with the bat. But other prominent top order batsmen, whose role in the team requires less risk, have failed just as often.
After Jayasuriya failed in the first ODI against India, Kumar Sangakkara chose to drop Jayasuriya for the following match.
"All our guys accept the fact that you got to perform to stay in the side," Sangakkara quipped when asked about Jayasuriya's omission.
However, just two months ago, in September 2009, when Jayasuriya and Dilshan were pummeling the West Indies at the ICC World Twenty20 Championships, Sangakkara told the media that Jayasuriya could play as long as he wanted to.
Here's a quote from CricketNext.com,
"He's a match winner and as long as he's fit and willing to play for us, we are happy to have him. He'll be 40 soon. The decision is finally his."
In the end the decision was not really his, and from his recent interview with Cricinfo it appears that Jayasuriya hasn't taken his omission from the side too well either.
So, what do you reckon? Should Jayasuriya retire? Vote on our poll by clicking the link below:
Is it time for Sanath Jayasuriya to retire?
*Click image for photo credits.
Comments
23 December 2008
3 weeks 21 hours
Ironically Upul Tharanga and Dilshan are the best batsmen in the tour. Where can we insert this cry baby and give him confidence.
At the age of 30 we could jhave given him extended run. Now he is 40. We have attacking batsman at the top. Young players are coming through. What did Arjuna tell after 2008 Asia Cup. Sanath should know when to retire.
I'm starting to wonder whether he's just being plain naive! I mean, how old does he think he is? Ranatunga was right in backing him in 1998 as he was about 29 years old. I'm sure Sanga or any other captain would back a batsman in his 20s even if he's been failing continuously for some time. However, how could a sane captain possibly back a 40 year old who, at the max, has about 2 years left in him?
Or is it that Jaya has become selfish? Really hate to have such thoughts about him, but he's really forcing us to think about him like that. Just wish he retired when he was on a high, like McGrath and Warne!
3 July 2009
1 hour 41 min
Exactly..U got it spot on!!!
23 January 2009
10 weeks 3 days
Of course the decision wasn't finally his (Sanga's)! I'm beginning to see that if it's something Sanga says, it's often just empty talk for the press or just plainly for show. Like a tailender's bat-pad gap, there's a huge gaping hole between his 'talk' and his 'walk', especially when it comes to things like 'playing positive cricket' and 'backing our players'. He's becoming one of the least innovative and most defensive captains in the world when on the field.
25 December 2009
10 weeks 3 days
wow! i really hope Kumar doesnt see this headline!! Quite a blow!
I think Jayasuriya was bound to be hurt but the decision to let tharanga open was the right one. Let us not forget that at the end of the day the captain and the selectors need to do what is best for the team on the long run.
And please cut Sanga some slack. I am a strong critique of his captaincy but let the dialogue lead to something positive. Don't just point fingers. We have the luxury of hindesight and a lot of decisions seem easy. It's hard to not put a man in the cover boundary when Sehwag hits every other ball there. Ofcourse he needs to Attack but the bowlers need to support him as well. I see nothing wrong in the way Sanga handles the media. He is taking our point of view to the world and that is somthing captains lacked in the past. We can't always walk the talk but atleast it's better than having no talk at all.
@Dasith
Talk is good, but only if you can back it up. Look at the successful captains now such as MS Dhoni. He didn't talk a lot, just answered the questions that the journos had asked him, and look where his team is!
3 July 2009
1 hour 41 min
Well though Arjuna backed him up those days I really don't think he would do now.. Arjuna is a great believer of the fact that you must leave when the time is up and I remember him saying that when sanath was left before the 06 tour to England though Sanath bounced back remarkably. I don't think none of the captains he had mentioned would have tolerated. Well Sanath should realize that he is being a hypocrite in accusing sanga by alluding. Coz he must realize that sanga is under immense pressure as a captain where heaps of youngsters knocking on the door and could easily replace present sanath. What can he do other than judging players based on peformances???? If Arjuna is in Sangas place today I'm daamn sure he would have done the same thing.
I heard He had given some tribute to Mahela who even criticized his presence in the team few months back . He was the one who least favored sanath in the team ever since the dusk of sanaths career.Nevertheless he was a great captain. Sanga at least kept him based on performances and had mahela been the captain he would not even have thought of selecting sanath to the squad
this is getting too embarassing, pls retire sanath, enough id enough
keep going sanath..we want you to play
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