Sri Lanka great Sanath Jayasuriya has said he would love Kumar Sangakkara to go back on his decision to quit one-day internationals after the World Cup after witnessing his “unbelievable” batting feats during the tournament.
The Islanders head into their quarter-final against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday with Sangakkara in sensational form after becoming the first batsman to score hundreds in four successive ODI matches.
Since being dismissed for seven by Afghanistan in a World Cup group match in Dunedin last month, the 37-year-old left-hander has made scores of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England, 104 against Australia and 124 against Scotland.
“Unbelievable,” said Jayasuriya, now Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, when asked about his former team-mate during a training session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.
“It’s one of the rarest things you can see, him playing four (hundreds) in a row. I’m lucky to be here to watch all four innings.
“I’m very happy and what I want, as chairman of selectors, is for him to continue his form right throughout the World Cup. I know he’s a great player for Sri Lanka and he also wants to continue his form.”
