Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over

Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Dubai, November 11, 2011

©AFP

Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Dubai, November 11, 2011 ©AFP

Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over

Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Dubai, November 11, 2011

©AFP

Abdul Razzaq removes Kumar Sangakkara in his first over, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Dubai, November 11, 2011

©AFP

Posted by

M Usman Arshad

Kumar Sangakkara chats to Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan during a training session

Kumar Sangakkara chats to Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan during a training session, Lord's, June 1 2011

© PA Photos

Kumar Sangakkara chats to Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan during a training session, Lord's, June 1 2011© PA Photos

Posted by
M Usman Arshad

James Anderson had Kumar Sangakkara out caught behind after a review

James Anderson had Kumar Sangakkara out caught behind after a review, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 1st day, May 26 2011 

© Getty Images

James Anderson had Kumar Sangakkara out caught behind after a review, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 1st day, May 26 2011 © Getty Images

By

M Usman Arshad

Kumar Sangakkara smiles at the end of his press conference

Kumar Sangakkara smiles at the end of his press conference, Colombo, April 5, 2011

©Associated Press

Kumar Sangakkara smiles at the end of his press conference, Colombo, April 5, 2011©Associated Press

Kumar Sangakkara has stepped down as Sri Lanka captain from all formats of the game

Kumar Sangakkara has stepped down as Sri Lanka captain from all formats of the game, but has offered to continue as interim Test captain © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Kumar Sangakkara has stepped down as Sri Lanka captain from all formats of the game, but has offered to continue as interim Test captain © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Sri Lanka news

Sangakkara steps down as ODI and T20 captain

ESPNcricinfo staff

April 5, 2011

Kumar Sangakkara has stepped down as captain of Sri Lanka's ODI and T20 teams but has offered to continue as the Test captain on an interim basis for the forthcoming series against England and Australia "if this is considered helpful for the new captain". He will continue as a player in all formats of the game.

His decision, revealed on Tuesday, comes days after he led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews are among those tipped to take charge of the limited-overs' sides, while Thilan Samaraweera is being discussed as an option to lead the Test team.

Sangakkara was the third highest scorer in the 2011 World Cup and scored 48 in their defeat to India in the final.

Kumar Sangakkara

"I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia", a statement from Sangakkara said.

"This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team. It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament.

"It has been a true honour and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years and, although bitterly disappointed that we could not win the final, I am very proud of the performances of the team.

"I met with the selectors on Monday and I explained my reasons for my decision and I assured them of my fullest support in helping our new captain settle into the leadership.

"In this regard, I have offered to continue as the Test captain for the forthcoming series with England and possibly Australia if the selectors believe this would help the new captain and aid the transition.

"I have no plans of retirement from international cricket at this stage and subject to form and fitness I would like to be considered for selection in all three formats of the game for the foreseeable future. "

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

New Zealand stumble against spin

New Zealand stumble against spin

New Zealand v Sri Lanka, World Cup 2011, Group A, Mumbai

Sangakkara ton carries Sri Lanka to 265

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara treated the Mumbai crowds to his 11th one-day hundred but New Zealand fought back with a flurry of late wickets to leave themselves 266 for victory at the Wankhede Stadium.

It was Sangakkara's first ODI century since June 2008 - a run stretching 64 matches - and alongside 66 from Mahela Jayawardene ensured New Zealand will need to surpass the record chase on this ground if they are to end on top.

The innings pivoted on a controversial moment in the 24th over, when Jayawardene chipped a return catch to Nathan McCullum. It went low to McCullum's right and the bowler dived full-length to scoop the ball centimetres off the turf. The batsman, however, stood his ground and the on-field umpires, Asad Rauf and Richard Kettleborough, opted to go upstairs. The side-on replay seemed to clearly show McCullum's fingers under the ball but a front-on shot, as it so often does, created doubt. Amiesh Saheba decided in favour of Jayawardene and New Zealand were denied a key wicket. Before then Jayawardene had struggled for 50 deliveries for 26 but added a further 40 at a run a ball.

New Zealand were visibly narked with both the decision and the batsman, who had not taken the word of the fielder as Jacques Kallis had done earlier in the tournament when Matt Prior held a low catch in South Africa's narrow defeat to England. The verbal exchanges served to fire Jayawardene up and he was soon exhibiting the fluent form that has deserted him since his century against Canada in Sri Lanka's opening game. His talents are all too familiar to New Zealand after Jayawardene denied them a place in the World Cup final four years ago with a stunning 115 not out at Sabina Park.

With Sangakkara serenely building a platform at the other end the third-wicket pair added 145 to hoist Sri Lanka out of early trouble and played the key hand in protecting the soft middle order for the major part of the innings.

The batting Powerplay brought Jayawardene's dismissal - missing a full ball from Tim Southee to be trapped in front - but also sparked Sangakkara's change of gear. In the following Southee over he creamed thee boundaries in successive balls to take him into the 90s before completing three figures in the next over from Jacob Oram. He fell for 111 soon after, however, missing an attempted slug across the line to McCullum and the questionable Sri Lankan middle order was unable to retain the momentum.

Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 55 after the fall of their captain as New Zealand wrestled back some control. Thilan Samaraweera was smartly held by Brendon McCullum standing up to the stumps off Scott Styris for 5 and Nathan McCullum finally had reason to smile after holding a juggling return catch to remove Chamara Silva for 3. McCullum finished with 2 for 48 but Sri Lanka's spin pairing, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, would have watched his progress keenly. Had it not been for Angelo Mathews' late-over 41 from 35 balls, the collapse would have been much worse.

It meant New Zealand ended the innings with the same spring they started with. Southee and Oram had found zip with the new ball and Tillakaratne Dilshan had been pinned down - making 3 from 14 balls - before top-edging a hook shot to third man. His opening partner, Upul Tharanga, was almost as unlucky to fall as Jayawardene was fortunate to survive. Dilshan had scorched back a drive at Southee who deflected it into the stumps to leave Tharanga cruelly short before the experienced third-wicket pairing took over.

Unlike the frenzied excitement of Group B, the qualifiers are already certain from the pedestrian Group A, but the winner of this game will be guaranteed a top-two finish in the group to set a possible knockout date with England. At the half-way stage, both teams will back themselves to do it.

Rain ruins match

Sri Lanka v Australia, Group A, World Cup 2011, Colombo

Rain ruins match after Sangakkara fifty

Torrential downpour forced the game to be abandoned after Kumar Sangakkara pushed Sri Lanka to 146 for 3 in 32.5 overs. It was a typical tough scramble of a contest that is expected on a turning track in Sri Lanka. Sangakkara led from the front with a responsible, and skillful, knock to push Sri Lanka towards a competitive total when rain intervened to kill the contest.

Kumar Sangakkara

The way the ball turned and bounced suggested that anything over 250 would be defendable, and it appeared as if Sangakkara was batting with that knowledge in his mind. He had two good partnerships with Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera before the elements took over.

Jayawardene had added 44 runs with his captain and they looked in great touch and control. If Sangakkara tried to punch through the line, Jayawardene looked to caress through the covers; if Sangakkara dabbed to the off, Mahela nudged to the leg, and both ran the singles well. The run-rate wasn't too high but Sri Lanka looked to be in control as the track was increasingly showing signs of aiding turn and bounce.

They thrived on quick singles and ironically, it led to Jayawardene's dismissal. He hesitated after tapping to point and that allowed Steve Smith to fire in a direct hit at the non-striker's end to catch him short of the crease. Sri Lanka were 75 for 3 at that stage and the pressure escalated on Sangakkara, but he continued on with his serene style.

Sangakkara's class stood out right from the moment he walked out to the middle after Tillakaratne Dilshan combusted early, slashing Shaun Tait to second slip in the second over. Even as Upul Tharanga struggled for timing and looked to be hurried by the pace, Sangakkara seemed to have time to play the ball late. He punched Brett Lee to the straight boundary, laced him through the covers and whipped through midwicket to collect 12 runs from the third over. He then square drove Shane Watson to the boundary, but the shot of the day was a classy on-the-up caressed punch off Mitchell Johnson to the straight boundary in the 12th over. Along with Samaraweera, he ensured there would be no further damage and steered Sri Lanka to a strong position when the ground was deluged by heavy rains.