Mahela Jayawardene Biography
Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan captain and is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Inspite of his numerous achievements, he remains one of the most down to earth characters of the game and is one of the most idolised players in his country.
A cricket fanatic since a very young age, Jayawardene captained his school’s Under-13 side, playing at the pivotal number three position. With his wonderful, flowing technique and his penchant for big runs, he quickly became one of the most promising players at school level. He debuted for Sinhalese Sports Club in 1995 and after slamming four centuries in the 1997-98 season was fast tracked into Sri Lanka’s test squad. He made an impressive debut against India carving a neat 66 runs in a game in which Sri Lanka piled a mammoth 952-6. He made his ODI debut in 1998 and scored a fine 74 in only his second game. However his breakthrough innings was a 167 against New Zealand on a Galle pitch so treacherous that Stephen Fleming labelled it as a ‘dung heap.’
He thereafter became a regular for Sri Lanka in tests and ODI’s and was one of their most consistent performers. An artistic 107 against England at Lord’s and a double hundred against a decent South African attack at Galle were just some of the highlights of his career during this period. In 2006, he was made captain for Sri Lanka’s Bangladesh tour after regular captain Marvan Atapattu was ruled out with a back injury. He thereafter led a young Sri Lankan side to complete a 5-0 whitewash of England in an ODI series and draw level in the test series. The fact that it was achieved in England, a country where few Asian countries had succeeded was a testimony to Jayawardene’s leadership qualities. In the same year he was involved in a world record partnership with Kumar Sangakkara. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka reached the final of the 2007 WC but gave up captaincy in 2009 with a view to concentrate on his batting.
A sweet timer of the ball, Jayawardene is blessed with an immaculate technique and loads of patience. Equally adept of both the front and back foot, Jayawardene is fine cutter of the ball and is also a very good close in fielder. A team man to the core, Jayawardene is credited for developing many of Sri Lanka’s current youngsters. Sri Lanka will be hoping that their beloved son comes good at the 2011 WC to be held in Asia and hopefully carry on for a few more years.
Fast Facts
He was runner up for the best schoolboy cricketer award during the 1994 season.
He played for an Under-19 Second XI when he was aged only 13.
He is the highest run getter for Sri Lanka in Tests and 3rd in ODI’s.
He is the only Sri Lankan to score more than 9000 runs in Tests.
He is Sri Lanka’s 2nd most successful captain in Tests and 3rd in ODI’s.
He is the first Sri Lankan captain to score a Test triple century and currently has the fourth highest individual score (374) in test cricket and the best for a Sri Lankan.
Murali-Jayawardena is the combination that has affected the most dismissals in the history of cricket.
He has scored centuries against every test playing nation.
He has the most number of half centuries and centuries for a Sri Lankan in test cricket.
He has taken the most number of catches in Test cricket and holds the Sri Lankan record for most number of catches in ODI cricket for a non wicket keeper.
Jayawardene is the first test batsman to score more than 2500 runs and have the most number of centuries at a specific venue. He holds this record at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
He holds the world record partnership in any form of cricket with Kumar Sangakkara (624), a feat achieved against South Africa in 2006.
He was captain of the "World ODI Team of the Year 2006"
In 2006, he was named by the ICC as the ‘Best International Captain of the Year.’
In 2007, he was ICC’s ‘Best Test Cricket Player of the Year.’
Sri Lanka won ‘ICC Spirit of Cricket’ award in 2007 under his leadership.
He was 'Wisden Cricketer of the Year' in 2007.
He is the only Sri Lankan to score a century in the T20 World cups.
He currently holds the highest test partnership for the 2nd wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (437) against Pakistan in 2009.
Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan captain and is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Inspite of his numerous achievements, he remains one of the most down to earth characters of the game and is one of the most idolised players in his country.
A cricket fanatic since a very young age, Jayawardene captained his school’s Under-13 side, playing at the pivotal number three position. With his wonderful, flowing technique and his penchant for big runs, he quickly became one of the most promising players at school level. He debuted for Sinhalese Sports Club in 1995 and after slamming four centuries in the 1997-98 season was fast tracked into Sri Lanka’s test squad. He made an impressive debut against India carving a neat 66 runs in a game in which Sri Lanka piled a mammoth 952-6. He made his ODI debut in 1998 and scored a fine 74 in only his second game. However his breakthrough innings was a 167 against New Zealand on a Galle pitch so treacherous that Stephen Fleming labelled it as a ‘dung heap.’
He thereafter became a regular for Sri Lanka in tests and ODI’s and was one of their most consistent performers. An artistic 107 against England at Lord’s and a double hundred against a decent South African attack at Galle were just some of the highlights of his career during this period. In 2006, he was made captain for Sri Lanka’s Bangladesh tour after regular captain Marvan Atapattu was ruled out with a back injury. He thereafter led a young Sri Lankan side to complete a 5-0 whitewash of England in an ODI series and draw level in the test series. The fact that it was achieved in England, a country where few Asian countries had succeeded was a testimony to Jayawardene’s leadership qualities. In the same year he was involved in a world record partnership with Kumar Sangakkara. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka reached the final of the 2007 WC but gave up captaincy in 2009 with a view to concentrate on his batting.
A sweet timer of the ball, Jayawardene is blessed with an immaculate technique and loads of patience. Equally adept of both the front and back foot, Jayawardene is fine cutter of the ball and is also a very good close in fielder. A team man to the core, Jayawardene is credited for developing many of Sri Lanka’s current youngsters. Sri Lanka will be hoping that their beloved son comes good at the 2011 WC to be held in Asia and hopefully carry on for a few more years.
Fast Facts
He was runner up for the best schoolboy cricketer award during the 1994 season.
He played for an Under-19 Second XI when he was aged only 13.
He is the highest run getter for Sri Lanka in Tests and 3rd in ODI’s.
He is the only Sri Lankan to score more than 9000 runs in Tests.
He is Sri Lanka’s 2nd most successful captain in Tests and 3rd in ODI’s.
He is the first Sri Lankan captain to score a Test triple century and currently has the fourth highest individual score (374) in test cricket and the best for a Sri Lankan.
Murali-Jayawardena is the combination that has affected the most dismissals in the history of cricket.
He has scored centuries against every test playing nation.
He has the most number of half centuries and centuries for a Sri Lankan in test cricket.
He has taken the most number of catches in Test cricket and holds the Sri Lankan record for most number of catches in ODI cricket for a non wicket keeper.
Jayawardene is the first test batsman to score more than 2500 runs and have the most number of centuries at a specific venue. He holds this record at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
He holds the world record partnership in any form of cricket with Kumar Sangakkara (624), a feat achieved against South Africa in 2006.
He was captain of the "World ODI Team of the Year 2006"
In 2006, he was named by the ICC as the ‘Best International Captain of the Year.’
In 2007, he was ICC’s ‘Best Test Cricket Player of the Year.’
Sri Lanka won ‘ICC Spirit of Cricket’ award in 2007 under his leadership.
He was 'Wisden Cricketer of the Year' in 2007.
He is the only Sri Lankan to score a century in the T20 World cups.
He currently holds the highest test partnership for the 2nd wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (437) against Pakistan in 2009.
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene after attacks - Sportsworld - 5 March 09
IPL 2010 - KXP vs CSK - Mahela Jayawardene's inning
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