[Video] Classic Catches | Kumar Sangakkara | World Cup 2007

Stunning catch by Sangakkara | SL Vs IRE | World Cup 2007 Click to expand...

[Video] Team Sri Lanka Warm Up Session | Finals World Cup 2007

The players warming up and the fans, Kensington Oval, Barbados. Click to expand...

[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 115 Vs West Indies | World Cup 2007

37 year old Jayasuriya still keeps going! Immaculate destruction, The manner which Sanath keeps hitting the gaps is remarkable. The Guyanese crowd were treated to a Jayasuriya assault.



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[Video] When Sabina Park woke up to Mahela | World Cup Semi Final 2007

It takes a lot to impress them here at Sabina Park. Many of the locals who came through the turnstiles were weaned on some of the game's all-time greats. Some were here in 1983, when Viv Richards hit a violent 36-ball 61 to transform a dying Test into an improbable triumph, and those whose memories stretch back further can recall the silken strokeplay of Lawrence Rowe.

So when they started purring towards the end of Mahela Jayawardena's innings, you knew you were watching something special. -Cricinfo

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Cricinfo - When Sabina woke up to Mahela Click to expand...

[Video] Murali Magic | 1st semi finals | World Cup 2007

A mesmerising four for 31 by off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan powered Sri Lanka to an emphatic 81-run victory against New Zealand in the first semi-final in Jamaica.

A tremendous performance by the ever-reliant Muralitharan, who was on a hat-trick at one stage, ensured that the Kiwis, who were 105-2, lost momentum and within a blink of an eye, collapsed to 116-7.

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[Video] Sanath Jayasuriya 63 Vs Australia | World Cup 2007 Final

If anyone could win it for the Lankans it was Jayasuriya but with rain in the horizon and the Duckworth and Lewis par total expanding beyond reach even the great Sanath succumbed. But it was some knock whilst it lasted. Sanath set the crowd in Barbados alight with his positive brand of cricket.

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[Video] World Cup 2007 Montage | Team Sri Lanka

A few memorable performances from World Cup 2007. The video was originally uploaded on the day of the World Cup final. Click to expand...

[Video] Lasith Malinga Vs New Zealand | 1st Semi Final | World Cup 2007

Micheal Holding: "Missed 3 consecutive games Malinga...bowling at the nets is different Ranjith from actually playing in the middle, lets see how he will do"

The rest of the over all I heard from Mr. Holding was "WOW"...."WOW"..."WOW..how do you play that?"

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[Video] Upul Tharanga 73 | 1st SEMI FINAL | World Cup 2007

A brilliant run a ball knock from Upul Tharanga. Silencing his critics and the selectors who were planning on dropping him for this game. Click to expand...

Gentleman can succeed too, you know?

My Physical Training class during my High School days at St. Peter’s College, Colombo purely consisted of Cricket. Having had various other options at the time with school facilities boasting of a swimming pool, Basketball court and a huge athletics field every student chose Cricket and there were no exceptions to that. Such was the interest in the game at the time that the students would only want to play or be taught cricket and nothing else.

One of the first coaching lessons I recall included a very thorough introduction to the game with constant and consistent reminders that Cricket is a game that boasts of high spirits and only taken up by gentlemen who can up hold the spirit of the game. Kudos to the PT Tutor at the time for his efforts in trying to not only inculcate the spirit of the game to his students but also for molding us into players who boast of exemplary behavior.

This is an admirable trait that carries fourth today in some of our oldest members in the current Lankan squad. Sanath jayasuriya is the shining example. Jayasuriya will never be remembered for on field disciplinary incidents, sledging or any absurd volatile remarks. Today he stands as a testimonial to all. His true talent and hard work has overshadowed the opposition’s verbal skills.

In my mind the term ’sledging’ requires thorough interpretation. Regardless of what’s said on the field, the intent behind sledging is what I question. To mentally bring down an individual by means of verbal abuse is not something we tolerate in today’s society. Why we allow it into a sport that boasts of a higher degree of spirit is baffling.

What Vexes me the most is the fact that some of us have chosen to accept this un healthy behavior, not fully understanding it’s consequences. Ice Hockey in North America is now more competitive fighting than a form of Hockey played on ice! The younger generation Toronto Maple Leaf’s fans are attracted to the sport due to the bashing involved.

Video - Hockey Fights
(Viewer Discretion Advised)

Sanath Jayasuriya - stats courtesy of Cricinfo

No one in the History of ODI Cricket has played more ODI’s than Sanath.

The second highest run scorer next to Tendulkar in ODi’s.

The Second in the list of player’s to receive the Most Man of the Match Awards.

Kevin Pietersen highlighted the remarkably well disciplined and well mannered Sri Lankan behavior in a recent interview. “Murali doesn’t say a lot, he just winds you up and winds you up because he knows he’s going to get you out,” Pietersen said. “He just smiles and laughs. He’s a really happy guy, a nice guy - I call him the silent assassin. He has so much talk on the cricket ball he doesn’t have to say much.”

As usual I leave you with a point to ponder on. How many International wickets do you think have fallen to intimidatory tactics than the skill of the bowler? It’s a compliment to one’s skills if he can bamboozle the batsmen with pace, swing, seam, drift or flight or would you rather be remembered as the greatest trash talker of the game?

The Lankan’s are thorough gentlemen, humble and modest as their up bringing. They play the game with the right spirit and it has not gone unnoticed.

“Mr. Vaas, my name is Andy Heger, and I’m a Sri Lanka cricket fan from the states …”

He looked at me. His face said, “Of course you are. What took you so long?” This guy has ice-water in his veins – he is totally unflappable. He took the picture. He even sort of smiled.

We were happy for our good fortune and getting ready to leave the hotel when a real commotion started by the door. This time it was Sanath Jayasuriya, the MVP of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team. Needless to say, he is a legend of Sri Lankan cricket.

Bald, buff, lean and mean, Jayasuriya immediately reminded me of Marvin Hagler – he looks like a champion middleweight boxer.

“Mr. Jayasuriya, my name …”

He looked at me. His face said, “You can’t possibly be serious.” Still, he stopped and quickly took the picture – smiled even.

- Andrew Heger

Thanks to Andrew and Melissa for the pictures - Sri Lanka’s All American Cheering Squad.

Find more of Andrew’s and Melissa’s photos and interesting encounters - http://spectacle-boat.com/

Orginally published on April 14, 2007 in Lankancricket.com Click to expand...

[Video] Lasith Slinga Malinga| 4 Wickets in 4 Balls | World Cup Hat-trick

Sri Lanka’s stirring fightback against South Africa , inspired by Lasith Malinga’s swinging yorkers and hostile pace which had ... all » the batsmen flummoxed and afraid — will long stand the test of memory. It was a terrific (batsmen facing him might call it terrifying) spell by one of the more unusual bowlers in the history of the game.

Like Jeff Thomson, Malinga too has a sling-shot action, but unlike Thomson, Malinga delivers the ball from shoulder height, making it difficult for the batsmen to follow the flight. He also bowls at around 150 kmph, and can get the ball to rear up from just short of a length, which makes him that much more unpredictable and dangerous.

Malinga’s four wickets in four balls brought his side to the brink of an improbable victory. Had his batsmen scored five — even two — runs more, there might have been a different result. South Africa eked out a narrow, tense victory, but Sri Lanka won all the hearts.

It’s not just because they have a fine all-round team, and a bowler who has the potential to be a big influence on the game, more because they have shown a never-say-die-spirit.

Who says there can be no glory in defeat?

Courtesy Cricinfo Click to expand...

[FLASHBACK] Kumar Sangakkara 54 Vs Australia | World Cup 2007 Final

Yet another classy ODI half century from Sri Lankan Wicket Keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara. Widely considered to be the best Keeper/Batsman in both forms of international cricket. Mcgrath gets smashed for 3 consequtive boundaries including one six and two fours.

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