I haven't seen Bradman but have watched Sangakkara: Mathews

Image
Press Trust of India Galle
Last Updated : Aug 11 2015 | 4:48 PM IST
In a fitting tribute to Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews today spoke of Don Bradman and the retiring great in the same breath, calling him the most "consistent batsman he has ever seen".
"We are very thankful for Sanga the way he has performed over the last 15 years and he is easily the most consistent batsman I have seen. I haven't seen the great Donald Bradman but Sanga is easily the most consistent batsman I've ever seen. We learnt a lot from him up to now and he is ready to teach us and pass on his experience, and we have benefited a lot from him," Mathews said about the retiring legend ahead of the first cricket Test against India starting here tomorrow.
The Lankan Test captain is confident that they can make Sangakkara's farewell memorable by winning the series.
"We are all geared up and we want to give him (Sangakkara) a good farewell. He's been a great servant for Sri Lankan cricket and for the team and we are very thankful to him for what we are today.
"Our team is in a better position because of contributions from players like Sanga, Mahela (Jayawardena), Thilan (Samaraweera) and TM Dilshan. So now it's up to the younger generation to take responsibility and show what we are capable of," said Mathews.
When asked if there is a chance Sangakkara could play the third Test if the series is tied 1-1 going into the SSC match, Mathews replied, "I wished so but unfortunately he's calling it a day and we all have to respect that decision. Good things have to come to an end and Sanga has decided it's time up for him."
"It's going to be a tough ask," he added, talking about the transition.
"It's quite easy to captain with players like Sanga and Mahela in the side. They had enough experience and now it's going to be a fairly tough job in this transition period with new faces and it's going to be a tough challenge for all of us.
"We have got to be patient as the younger guys are very skillful. It's just that they need exposure in the international arena and have yet to learn, to learn you have to play and be patient with them and hopefully they can take the team where it wants to be.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 11 2015 | 4:48 PM IST

Next Story