Sangakkara: I'll miss the game but I'm secure with what I've achieved

The farewell Test may not have gone according to script but the poignant mood surrounding Kumar Sangakkara's international retirement extended to the post-match press conference, where the 37-year old legend faced the media for the the first time as a retired international cricketer.

Excerpts:

On his final Test match

It never hits you until the end comes. You finish the cricket, and then you are out there talking about yourself in the past tense. But, the game itself, preparation as usual was the same - the focus and, putting the fact that it is my last Test, behind me. The emotion used to come at the end of the day, knowing that the countdown had started. But, unfortunately, we didn't play as well as we could. India played a fantastic game of cricket. But, from a personal point of view, I enjoyed every minute of it even though, ending up on the losing side is disappointing. I was very, very glad that I have been fortunate enough to play another Test match.

On the final day of international cricket

Yes, it is certainly the most memorable, specially the announcement (President's offer). Your last Test, you obviously remember for various reasons. Special thank you to Mr. (Sunil) Gavaskar for those very, very kind words. I watched him score hundreds against West Indies in a hat and a little cut-out plastic skull cap. And, to have a player of his legendary ability to say what he said, I am very grateful. Also, to everyone who came out and supported me: the fans, the press, the team-mates and my family. It is a very memorable Test.

On the Sri Lankan President's offer of becoming Sri Lankan high commissioner to UK

I actually just heard it and it was quite a surprise. I have to go and think about it and really have a proper chat with His Excellency as well.

On his emotional state during the final innings (Comparisons to Don Bradman's moist eyes in his final Test)

I think I just couldn't see the ball that Ashwin bowled to me four times in-a-row. Every other ball, I saw pretty well. But, that's the way it goes. You can't always score runs, that's always going to be the case in your career. Everyone wants to sign off on a high, but, unfortunately I couldn't score a fifty or a hundred or do it in that sense. But no, the focus is always very clear when I go about to bat - it is about scoring runs and trying to take the team forward. Unfortunately, my contribution wasn't enough in this game.

On his emotions after getting dismissed in his final innings

The moment I got out it was the usual disappointment and frustration. Because, my job is to try and stay there till the end of the day. But, when I was walking off and all the Indian players came and shook my hands, that is when it hit me, that's it really. So, going back into the dressing room and taking the pads off, it just hits you that it is the last time you will be doing that in national colours. There is a note of finality in that.
The moment I got out it was the usual disappointment and frustration. Because, my job is to try and stay there till the end of the day. But, when I was walking off and all the Indian players came and shook my hands, that is when it hit me, that's it really. So, going back into the dressing room and taking the pads off, it just hits you that it is the last time you will be doing that in national colours. There is a note of finality in that.

Comparisons with Bradman and a former coach's claim about Sangakkara being better

I think he might have been joking. I watched Bradman bat on old grainy videos and he was exceptional. You take any of those great cricketers from any era and you put them here with the modern techniques, the modern training methods and he might have averaged much more. But, there will always be comparisons, but I am pretty secure in being Kumar and having played the game and achieved what I have in the game.

On whether he remembered all the names in his farewell speech

I couldn't. I imagined my parents and family. I forgot to mention my wife and children by name. To me, when I say I family, it's all of them. You know my children are six-years old now but that's been the highlight of my partnership. She (Yehali) has been amazingly supportive and amazingly tolerant. I'm quite a chaotic person. I'm only organised in my batting. Anything away from that, it's not easy for her to get me organised, to keep me on track and get my appointments done. But, she has done the most amazing job. Like I said, I've been blessed with so much and I'm thankful for all of it.

My partnership with Yehali and my children has been the best part of my life. So, I hope she tolerates me for a few more years.

Special moments in cricket

Quite a few special moments. Today was always going to be special for a lot of reasons. It was the first time that I had parents, my children, my siblings, and my wife all together at one place, watching me play. That is always going to be the memorable part of my game. My parents have never made a fuss of anything. They rarely come to the games or see me off during the games. But, they keenly follow my game.

So, that has really helped in keeping me grounded throughout everything I have gone through. Those are the real memorable moments, because, once I'm finished, I'll miss the game, but I know I have the security.

On not playing international cricket again

I'm sad, but there's also a joy, because playing cricket everyday is not easy. There is pressure. There is a lot of difficult work. Struggles, sacrifices. It's not easy. So, if you look at it like that, there is some relief. That pressure and those expectations have been lifted off. But, at the same time, watching cricket is also not easy. That desire is still there. You have to get used to that. I hope, now that I'm out of the game, I'll be able to appreciate the cricket that is played, and the young cricketers who are playing it.

Bowlers that have challenged him

Ashwin in this series, Zaheer Khan and Graeme Swann when I've played against some of these bowlers, I've sometimes been unsuccessful. But, you're always trying to refine your strategy and come out of that. Wasim Akram is someone I've played only when I was young, thankfully. He's got me out once and his bowling style was excellent. Playing against these cricketers is a big challenge.

On his plans to counter Ashwin

We talked about players going down the wicket, trying to sweep, but those are, at times, plans you have to execute in the first innings when you try and get ahead of the game. In the second innings, it gets tough because you are trying to defend. But, he (Ashwin) has the weapons in his armoury to counter attack. When someone starts sweeping, you will see him bowl a bit quicker, fuller and straighter at the stumps. When it turns, you will see him vary his pace and try to get it straighter. His seam position is fantastic. He seems to be thinking all the time. So, it is a great challenge to play against him and it will be interesting to see how the boys go against him in the next Test.

On how cricket has changed him as a person

I have grown a lot mellow. I was a bit feisty when I started. Now, I'm a lot more relaxed when it comes to approaching and preparing for the game. I have learnt not to get lost in the game too much when I'm away from it. At the end of the day, you play an amazing and unique sport, but you got to play it as a sport.

You need to play it with an almost childish wonder, where you just play and you enjoy. If it doesn't work, you give up with disappointment, come back and try and enjoy the game.
You need to play it with an almost childish wonder, where you just play and you enjoy. If it doesn't work, you give up with disappointment, come back and try and enjoy the game.

Specialization versus versatility of today? e.g KL Rahul keeping wickets for India.

I think being flexible is absolutely necessary, not just as a player, but as a person as well to understand, to know when to change, what to change and have an open mind. Rahul took a vital catch first ball of the day behind the stumps, but from experience I can tell him that keeping and then opening is not going to be the easiest thing in Test cricket. But, having that ability in the side when something goes wrong, when an injury happens - to be able to pick up the slack, that's very, very important. India were lucky that they had Rahul to take up the gloves.

On the future of Sri Lankan cricket

That's in no danger at all. The younger generation take their cricket very seriously. They take their commitment very seriously and I know when you are in the dressing room, when you lose, you see the disappointment and the hurt. Without a doubt, that will drive them on to do much better. It will take some time for them to find their feet. It is a very young team, but the way they are going about their preparation, their work ethic, their commitment, no one can fault them for that. The harder they work, the better they will become for it and I am sure you will see them take Sri Lanka cricket farther and higher in future.

His advice to Sri Lankan batsman about the importance of constructing a Test innings

It is really about concentration. Getting your first hundred is the hard part, the next one - if you bat long enough it comes. Knowing when to accelerate and when to be defensive, most of all knowing how to break down your concentration. You have to concentrate eight hours to get a double hundred. You only concentrate on specific deliveries. So, there is a very short time to be able to take your mind off the ball when you are on the non-striker's end or in between deliveries. So, it is something that comes naturally to some, others learn. It is just a case of managing that.

On the role of his parents in shaping his career

Both my parents have had a special influence on my life and my cricket career. It's the foundation that they gave me at home that has brought me this far in life. At the same time my wife and my two children in the last 15, 20 years, they were right behind me. It's not something you can do yourself. My family, my friends and everyone has made sacrifices, and it's through that love that I've been able to get where I am. I'm especially thankful to them.

On the diplomat offer and a possible move to politics

I've only got one invitation so far (laughs). I haven't got the second one. I respect the President's request. I need to talk more with him about it. I'm very inexperienced in such things. You need to have special knowledge for that post as well. I have to think about it and work out a reply to the offer.

On his next plans

I'll go home and sleep, then tomorrow I'm going to England. If you're talking about my future, I have to sit down with my wife and children and figure out what's best for them. Whether I'm part of cricket or not, the sport will go forward. It won't stop. I have a great responsibility to my family, so I'll think about them first, before anything else.

On what made Kumar Sangakkara a legend

I think it's in the way my work ethic changed. I found a bit more about myself, and I found out a way that would work. Doesn't work the same for everyone. But. for me, it was a case of working, changing, working, changing and trying to find a formula. More often than not, I was fortunate that what I tried worked.

I wish there was a secret, like I knew exactly what's working. At times, you just don't know what is working and you keep doing it. You change it only when you hit a stumbling block and try something new.