Cricket World Cup: Kumar Sangakkara is a 'once in a lifetime' player, says Michael Carberry
‘He’s got everything – grace, timing. Such a clever batsman and thinker of the game’
Thursday 26 February 2015 15:06, UK
Michael Carberry has described Kumar Sangakkara as a ‘once in a lifetime’ player as he celebrated his 400th ODI appearance for Sri Lanka with a century in their win over Bangladesh at the World Cup.
Sangakkara – who will retire from one-day cricket after the tournament – is one of only four to reach the mark behind fellow Sri Lankan’s Mahela Jayawardene (444), Sanath Jayasuriya (445), and India's Sachin Tendulkar (463).
His 105 off 76 balls in Sri Lanka’s 92-run win at the MCG was his 22nd ODI hundred and quickest ever. Fellow left-hander and former England batsman Michael Carberry was full of admiration for his efforts telling Sky Sports: “It’s an incredible effort, 400 games.
“It just shows you how much one-day cricket is played on the sub-continent – these guys rack up so many games in a 10-12 year career and he’s been a wonderful player over that time.
“I refer to him as the Aston Martin of batting. He’s got everything – grace, timing. He’s such a clever batsman.
“The way he manipulates the ball, the field. And he’s a very good thinker of the game as well. He knows the areas that he’s trying to hit the ball and plays with such grace and ease. And that’s just his batting, we forget to talk about his keeping.
“These kind of guys come around once in a lifetime and Sri Lanka have been very lucky to have three [Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan] in one era.
“It will be sad when he goes but I think he’s left a great legacy.”
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Dilshan also starred in Sri Lanka’s win, smashing 161 off 146 balls and putting on a 210-run partnership with Sangakkara as the team posted 332-1 from their 50 overs.
Carberry was equally full of praise for the manner in which Dilshan set about his innings, providing Sangakkara the perfect platform to attack.
“He played in a controlled manner,” added Carberry. “He didn’t slog, just played good cricket shots.
“As soon as bowlers missed their lengths, he was all over them and once he passed his hundred, he put his foot down, as you should do with wickets in hand.
“He’s a guy who is very fearless with the brand of cricket he plays. He goes after it from ball one and the Sri Lankan dressing room is one that backs him to play that way.
Sri Lanka are next in action against England on Saturday, live from 9pm on Sky Sports World Cup.
