In numbers: Kumar Sangakkara’s amazing consistency

Tags: Sri Lanka, Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara, Test Cricket

Published on: Jun 28, 2014

Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara was the top run-getter in the recently concluded Test series against England, adding to his growing list of success stories.

Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara was the top run-getter in the recently concluded Test series against England, adding to his growing list of success stories. Over the last year, Sangakkara has gone on from strength to strength across formats; his consistency has been almost Bradman-like. Here’s a recap of Sangakkara’s fabulous run that just doesn’t seem to end.

Tests
Almost exactly a year ago, Sangakkara scored an unbeaten 199 against Pakistan at Galle. He faced 387 balls and hit 18 fours and 2 sixes as Sri Lanka won the Test by 209 runs. Sangakkara made 192 (15 fours and 1 six) in the very next Test at Colombo in a high-scoring drawn Test. Sangakkara followed it up with an unbeaten 74 in the third Test at Pallekele, and was the man of the series. Sri Lanka struggled in Australia in December, with Sangakkara being the only one making some impact. He has scores of 4, 63, 58 and 27 not out in his four visits to the crease as Australia won the series 3-0.

Sangakkara roared back to form against Bangladesh at home. In the Galle Test in March 2013, he managed 142 (16 fours and 3 sixes), and in the second innings he made 105 (10 fours). Sangakkara continued his great form in the second Test as well. He smashed 139 (11 fours) in the first innings, and added a sedate 55 in the second innings. Sri Lanka then took on Pakistan at Abu Dhabi. In the first Test, Sangakkara had a relatively quiet time, yet he managed 55 in the second innings. The second Test at Dubai saw a rare failure for Sangakkara as he only managed scores of 26 and 9 not out. The left-hander finished the series with 52 and 8 at Sharjah.

Come Bangladesh, and Sangakkara was back among the big runs. The veteran left-hander made 75 from 182 balls with nine fours at Mirpur at the start of 2014. In the second Test of the series at Chittagong, he entered the record books. Sangakkara eased his way to 319 (32 fours and 8 sixes) in the first innings, and added 105 (11 fours and 2 sixes) in the second innings. In the just-concluded series against England, he continued his good run with scores of 147, 61, 79 and 55. He has almost been unstoppable at the Test level.

ODIs
Sangakkara has been equally brilliant and consistent in ODIs. His major scores over the last year are as follows:

134 not out against England at The Oval, June 13, 2013
90 not out against West Indies at Port of Spain, July 7, 2013
71 against India at Port of Spain, July 11, 2013
169 against South Africa at Colombo, July 2, 2013
91 against South Africa at Pallekele, July 28, 2013
79 against New Zealand at Hambantota, November 10, 2013
128 against Bangladesh at Dhaka, February 20, 2014
103 against India at Fatullah, February 28, 2014
112 against England at Lord’s, May 31, 2014

--By A Cricket Analyst

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