Opinion It was a pleasure,Thilan
That stroke,off Daniel Vettori,took Samaraweera from 112 to 116.
August 27,2009. With around half an hour to go for lunch,Thilan Samaraweeras feet traced an intricate pattern on the SSC wicket: three steps down the pitch a half-step sideways with the front foot to vacate space for the downward swish of his bat,which sent the ball speeding away through the gap between extra cover and mid off.
That stroke,off Daniel Vettori,took Samaraweera from 112 to 116. This was his second century in two Tests,and his fourth in his last seven Tests. Five months previously,he had been shot in the thigh during a terrorist attack in Lahore. At the end of this Test match,his 51st,his average was 51.87.
At that point,sceptics said he wasnt as good a batsman as his average suggested bowling attacks around the world,they said,werent half as good as they used to be,and besides,just look at his record outside the subcontinent.
On the surface,they were right. Samaraweera then averaged 31.11 in Tests outside the subcontinent (excluding Zimbabwe). But his combined experience in Australia,England,New Zealand and the West Indies amounted to ten Tests. Sri Lanka simply didnt and still dont get regular opportunities to tour these lands.
Since then,opinions have changed. He saved Sri Lanka a Test match in England with an unbeaten 87 and followed it up with two centuries against Dale Steyn and his mates in South Africa. Suddenly,everyone was looking at Samaraweera in a new light.
Now,as he announces his retirement after a final,unsuccessful tour of Australia,the question of Samaraweeras place among the greats of his era remains in dispute. But let that be,for a moment. In constantly poring over players numbers,we often lose sight of the aesthetic pleasure they provide. Samaraweera was one of the last flag-bearers of a peculiarly Sri Lankan style of batting correct,graceful,almost old-fashioned. Of that school only Mahela Jayawardene remains. Enjoy him while hes still around and ignore,for a moment,his poor record outside the subcontinent.
(Karthik is a senior correspondent based in New Delhi)
karthik.krishnaswamy@expressindia.com
Share
