“I still have a little bit left in me and I promise I’ll give everything during the World Cup, if I’m selected of course,” an emotional Mahela Jayawardene said, after ending his glittering, 17-year Test career on a high Monday as Sri Lanka won the second and final Test against Pakistan by 105 runs to sweep the series 2-0.
The 37-year-old was hoisted onto his teammates’ shoulders for a lap of honour after the tourists, who resumed their second innings at 127-7 chasing a target of 271, were shot out for 165 before lunch on the fifth day.
The former Test captain, who had retired from Twenty20 internationals after Sri Lanka’s title-winning campaign in the World T20 in April, will now play only one-day cricket heading into next year’s World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse was among the 4,000 home fans who turned up at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) to bid goodbye to one of modern cricket’s great batsmen.
“I don’t know what to say, but I promise I won’t cry,” Jayawardene said at the presentation ceremony as firecrackers went off in the stands. “I love you all. Thank you so much for the support all these years. I still have a little bit left and I promise I’ll give it my all for the World Cup. Thanks also to my team-mates. It’s been great to play for Sri Lanka for so many years. I have always worn this cap with pride and passion.”
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq described Jayawardene as a legend whose absence in the Test arena will be felt by all. “Not only Sri Lankans, fans all over the world are going to miss him,” Misbah said. “I really wish him best of luck in life. He is really a legend.”
The elegant right-hander is one of only five batsmen to score more than 11,000 runs in both Test and one-day cricket -- the others being Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and team-mate Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene finished with 11,814 runs in 149 Tests with 34 centuries, but his average dropped from 50.02 to 49.84 after making four and 54 in his final Test at the SSC.
It was at the SSC that Jayawardene scored a monumental 374 during a world-record partnership of 624 with Sangakkara (287) against a South African attack that included Dale Steyn and Makhya Ntini in 2006.
His 2,921 runs in 27 Tests at the SSC are the most by any batsman at a single ground. He averaged 74.89 at the SSC with 11 centuries and 50 half-centuries. Jayawardene is stepping away from Tests to let younger players flourish, but he looked capable of continuing for a few more years after making a fluent 165 against Hashim Amla’s South African team at the SSC last month. He followed that with 59 in the first innings of the first Test against Pakistan in Galle, where he took on the unfamiliar role of an opener in the second knock as Sri Lanka beat fading light and approaching rain to win with 4.4 overs to spare.
Jayawardene was also a shrewd captain while leading Sri Lanka in 38 Tests in two phases, the first from 2006 to 2009 and then again for a year in 2012. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka won 18 Tests, lost 12 and drew eight. As captain, he averaged 59.11 with the bat with 14 centuries. One of the sharpest fielders close to the wicket, Jayawardene’s 205 Test catches are second only to Indian Rahul Dravid’s tally of 210 by a fielder other than a wicket-keeper.
Jayawardena’s presentation ceremony speech:
Honestly, I don’t know what to say, but I promise I won’t cry.
First of all, I would like to thank the team for a fantastic effort. In Galle and in Colombo, it has been a great team effort and I’m very proud of the boys. This year has been fantastic, so thank you guys. Let me thank the Pakistani boys, they’ve been brilliant. They’ve played some really good cricket and have been great ambassadors; looking forward to the one-dayers and I’ve enjoyed playing with you guys.
Where do I start? I have a few people to thank but I won’t take much time. I would like to thank my coaches – Mr Lionel Mendis, who has been coaching me since I was seven. I would like to thank my school coaches, the past cricketers and everyone who has made me the person I am. Let me take this opportunity to thank my school – Nalanda – for the great support that they’ve granted me. They’ve always supported me whatever I did, so thank you very much. To SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club), they’ve looked after me since I was a teenager, so thank you very much to the president, to the committee and everyone else here. Let me thank Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for giving me this opportunity, helping me in my career and this farewell. To all the people who are involved with the SLC – the president, the committee and everyone else – thank you very much. Let me thank his excellency the president (Mahinda Rajapaksa) for gracing this occasion, thank you very much sir.
I also want to thank all the fans, thank you very much for coming in numbers. I love you all, thank you so much for all the support all these years. I still have a little bit left in me and I promise I’ll give everything during the World Cup, if I’m selected of course. Thank you so much for all the support all these years, it has been fantastic.
Finally, let me say thank you to my parents who have been there for me from day one. And to my family and friends, thank you so much for being a strength to me throughout these years. Without you guys I cannot do anything.
Charlie (Austin), my manager, thank you, mate, for all the help. And obviously to my lovely wife who has gone through a lot with the little one. It has been a tough journey but she has enjoyed it, both the good times and the bad times. Finally, thank you to the boys; it has been amazing. Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara), my great mate, you have a little bit left. It’s been a really enjoyable journey, but there’s a little bit left. So I’ll enjoy that. It has been great to play for Sri Lanka, and I’ve always worn the cap with a lot of pride. We’ve created a winning culture and hopefully the boys will continue to do that. Thank you very much, thanks.
