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Out of Tests Sana-boy speaks out
By
Dharisha Bastians
The news that the Asgiriya match against the visiting England team
would be Sanath Jayasuriya’s last test encounter stunned the
nation last week and fuelled speculation that his hand had been
forced by elements on the selectors’ panel. The Bottom Line
caught up with ‘Sana-boy’ on the sidelines of the second
test at SSC yesterday, where he took a break from cricket commentating,
to answer some of the questions raised over his retirement. Following
are excerpts of that chat with the country’s favourite ‘master-blaster’:
Q: Why retire from Test cricket
in the middle of the English tour?
A: It would have been ideal if I could have done it in Galle,
being my hometown. But this was a decision that I made when I was
in Australia. Actually, I was not to go to Australia. But after
Marvan pulled out, the selectors picked me. But then, again Marvan
joined in and we went on the Australian tour with 17 players including
four openers. In the end, I decided I would make the announcement
in Kandy after the first test against England.
Q: Did anybody force you to
make this decision or was it a personal choice?
A: No, nobody forced me; this was my personal decision. I
thought I should concentrate more on my one-day cricket.
Q: Why did you decide to retire
so suddenly?
A: The thing is, even if you are fit for the game and you
perform well, sometimes, if you don’t performance well for
three or four innings, they start talking about your age and your
fitness and other things. I don’t want it to drag on like this,
so I thought I should retire now. But this isn’t a decision
that I took just because people talked, it came from my heart. I
want to give the young crowd a chance as well; for players like
Upul Tharanga to get out there in the test cricket field.
Q: Isn’t your decision
somewhat premature?
A: I don’t know how to explain that. I am different
to other players. I have been performing very well in all areas
such as batting, bowling and fielding. And I still think that there
is a lot of potential left in me, but I believe that everything
has to end on a high note. I did well in the last innings as well
– I scored 78 runs. This way, I feel as if I ended my test
cricket career on a high note.
Q: If there was an outcry by
the people or the selectors requested you to make a comeback for
the Galle test, would you consider it?
A: No, I would not consider that.
Q: But wouldn’t you be
disappointing your fans?
A: Well, in a way, I think, I did disappoint my fans in my
hometown. But now that the decision is made, I am very happy with
it and I don’t want to change it. And I have only taken leave
from test cricket, but I will be making my fans happy through one-day
matches.
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Q: Wouldn’t even the fact
that this is the first match being played in Galle since the tsunami,
prompt you to reconsider?
A: I know how it feels, especially, for the people in my
hometown. But I made this decision in a free frame of mind, so now,
I don’t want to change it.
Q: Do you have a problem with
any of the selectors?
A: No, I don’t have any problem with any of the selectors.
I must say that Asantha De Mel had a lot of faith in me. So did
the other selectors. I am glad that they have had so much faith
in me. I have no complaints at all.
Q: You are not leaving test
cricket on a bitter note?
A: No, definitely not.
Q: In your opinion, what kind
of people should run the cricket administration?
A: It’s a very difficult question to answer, actually.
I can’t answer the question at the moment, because I am contracted
to the cricket board at the moment. Hence, I am constrained from
answering these kinds of questions. But, what I think is that, it
doesn’t matter who is in charge, as long as they do a good
job on the field. Whoever it is needs to get a good cricketing system
in place and ensure that good players are produced. Visiting outstations
on talent search is really important. Whoever
it is needs to develop a good Sri Lankan cricket team.
Q: There was a report in the
British press recently, that one of the selectors called you and
issued an ultimatum, saying that you must retire after Kandy or
run the risk of being dropped at the next test. Is this true?
A: No, it isn’t true.
Q: What are you planning to
do after retirement?
A: I am working at the NDB Bank at the moment. I have received
several opportunities to do sports commentaries with a network for
the next two test matches. It is a very new and interesting experience.
I also have been thinking of starting a business. But, right now,
I am very happy working at the NDB Bank.
Q: Were your colleagues in the
team happy with your decision to quit playing test cricket?
A: Some were a little disappointed. They feel that I should
have retired after the game in Galle. But some of them respected
my decision
Q: There was an unwritten understanding
that the Sri Lankan team needed you to perform to be assured of
victory. Who can the team count on now?
A: I think, for the moment, it is going to be Kumar Sangakkara
and Mahela Jayawardene. Others too, have to take on this responsibility.
We have had discussions on the fact that each of us have to share
the responsibility of performing well in all the games and not shift
the burden onto just one or two players.
Q: Will you allow your little
son to take up cricket someday?
A: I would love to. And if he is interested in the game and
he wants to play, I shall always let him play.
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