Master-blaster Sanath started at St. Servatius Matara

Cricket: The perseverance of Sri Lanka's master-blaster to stay in the game of cricket for long has induced the cricket authorities to play him in important matches though in recent times he has not been among the runs. Sanath Tehran Jayasuriya - a former Sri Lanka skipper had been part and parcel of inter-school cricket in Sri Lanka. He is a product of St. Servatius College, Matara and was picked as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in the Outstation category in 1988. He was also picked as the Best Batsman and Best All-rounder in the Outstation Segment. Sanath is one of the best all-rounders by Matara to emerge from inter-school cricket. He has been Matara's 'King-Ping' over the years. Though he has hit a rough spot in recent months, he is such a gifted cricketer and is bound to hit-it-off well at any given time.

Cricket and Jayasuriya are synonymous and it seems that though he has failed with the bat a couple of times, he will devote himself to the game for some more time.

Right now, Jayasuriya is in big company. He is a member of Parliament in the ruling party from the Matara District and in two weeks time - that's June 30 he will turn 40 not out. He seems quite capable of playing some more cricket. He was born in Matara on June 30 in 1969 and had his education at St. Servatius' College, Matara.

Aggressive tactics

Sanath Jayasuriya has been an all-rounder from his schooldays and has been a member of the Sri Lanka team since 1989. He revolutionised one-day international batting with his aggressive tactics during the 1996 cricket World Cup. The tactics used were to take advantage of the early field restrictions by literally smashing the opening bowlers to all parts of the ground. It was a potentially match-winning tactic at that time. With this type of batting in the limited over game, Sri Lanka were able to go forward.

Australian former paceman Glenn McGrath signalled out Jayasuriya in his toughest XI, citing Jayasuriya as a player who could change the course of the game at any given time. In the 1996 World Cup Tournament and was adjudged as the Man of the Tournament for his all-round contributions.

He was named as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1997.

Jayasuriya had the record for the highest Test score of 340 by a Sri Lankan when he slammed the Indian bowlers all over the field at the Premadasa Stadium in the 1997-98 series. He made 340 and with Roshan Mahanama (225) the pair had a marathon world record partnership of 576 runs at that time to help Sri Lanka to 952 for 6 wickets at close of play. Jayasuriya's monumental knock came in 799 minutes off 578 deliveries and tucked into it 2 sixes and 36 fours. Mahanama stayed at the wicket for 753 minutes in scoring 225 which included 28 fours. India had made 537 for 8 wickets and then declared when they batted first.

Jayasuriya - Mahanama record

The Jayasuriya - Mahanama record partnership was surpassed in July 2006 when Mahela Jayawardena made 374 in a 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa.

Jayasuriya also holds the world's second ODI score jointly with Viv Richards of West Indies at 189 runs. Jayasuriya made his knock against India. He holds the record for the fastest 50 in ODIs which is off 17 balls.

In 2006, Jayasuriya scored 157 runs off 104 balls in Holland in a two-match one-day series against Holland and helped Sri Lanka to 443 for 9 wickets beating South Africa who made 438 for 9 wickets against Australia. Sri Lanka won the match by 195 runs. A.C. de S.