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Mahela Jayawardene

Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene (born 27 May 1977) is a Sri Lankan former professional cricketer who served as captain and was one of the leading right-handed batsmen of the Sri Lankan national cricket team. Across an international career spanning approximately 18 years, he appeared in 652 international matches and became the first Sri Lankan to score over 10,000 runs in Test cricket. In November 2021, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Key facts

Full name Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene
Date of birth 27 May 1977
Nationality Sri Lankan
Batting style Right-handed
Role Batsman; former captain
Test debut August 1997
ODI debut January 1998
International matches 652
Highest Test score 374 (vs South Africa)
ICC Hall of Fame Inducted November 2021
Current role Chairman, Sri Lanka National Sports Council

Background

Jayawardene emerged in Sri Lankan cricket in the late 1990s, making his Test debut in August 1997 and his One Day International debut in January 1998. He developed into one of the team's most consistent batsmen and a recognised tactical leader. During his career, he formed a noted friendship and on-field rivalry with teammate Kumar Sangakkara, with whom he produced several record partnerships.

Career highlights

Batting records

  • His highest Test score of 374 against South Africa is the highest score by a right-handed batsman in the history of Test cricket.
  • In 2006, alongside Kumar Sangakkara, he was part of the highest ever partnership in First-class cricket, scoring 624 runs for the third wicket in the first Test of Sri Lanka's home series against South Africa.
  • With Sangakkara, he holds the record for the most career partnership runs for the third wicket in Tests, with 5,890 runs, surpassing the previous mark of 5,826 held by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
  • He became the first Sri Lankan to score over 10,000 Test runs, and the second Sri Lankan to score more than 10,000 ODI runs, after Sanath Jayasuriya.
  • He was the first Sri Lankan in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to score a century, making 100 against Zimbabwe in the 2010 tournament.

Captaincy and team achievements

  • Led Sri Lanka to victory in the 2008 Asia Cup.
  • Key member of the squads that won the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.
  • Part of the Sri Lankan teams that reached the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.

Fielding

Jayawardene was widely regarded for his fielding skills in the inner ring. A report by ESPNcricinfo in late 2005 indicated that since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the most run-outs in ODI cricket of any fielder, with the fifth highest run-out per match ratio in ODIs at that time.

Honours and recognition

  • Named by the International Cricket Council as the best International Captain of the Year in 2006.
  • Nominated in 2007 as the best Test cricket player of the year.
  • Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in November 2021, becoming only the third Sri Lankan to receive the honour after Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara.

Timeline

  • 1977 – Born on 27 May.
  • 1997 – Made his Test debut in August.
  • 1998 – Made his ODI debut in January.
  • 2002 – Part of the Sri Lankan team that won the ICC Champions Trophy.
  • 2006 – Set the world-record 624-run third-wicket partnership with Sangakkara; named ICC's best international captain of the year.
  • 2007 – Reached the Cricket World Cup final; nominated as best Test player of the year.
  • 2008 – Captained Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup title.
  • 2009 – Reached the ICC World Twenty20 final.
  • 2010 – Scored 100 against Zimbabwe at the T20 World Cup, the first century by a Sri Lankan in the tournament.
  • 2011 – Reached the Cricket World Cup final.
  • 2012 – Reached the ICC World Twenty20 final.
  • 2014 – Member of the Sri Lankan side that won the ICC World Twenty20.
  • 2016 – Worked as an international TV commentator during the first Test at Headingley on 19 May, between England and Sri Lanka.
  • 2021 – Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Post-playing roles

After retirement from international cricket, Jayawardene has taken up a range of roles in administration, media and business. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Sports Council and has worked as an international television commentator. He also serves as a board member in several unlisted public limited companies in Sri Lanka. He has been a vocal critic of Sri Lanka Cricket over the years, particularly following the decline of the national team after 2015.

Significance

Jayawardene is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Sri Lankan cricket history. As a batsman, captain, fielder and tactician, he played a central role in Sri Lanka's transformation into a sustained competitor on the world stage during the 2000s and early 2010s. His record-breaking partnerships with Kumar Sangakkara, his contribution to multiple ICC tournament finals, and his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame underscore his standing among the leading cricketers of his generation.

References