Kumar Sangakkara is in good nick having complied a flawless 171 for Surrey against Somerset at The Oval in a County Championship Division I match yesterday.
With the national cricket team going through many struggles, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will be tempted to ask their former captain Kumar Sangakkara to come out of retirement after he compiled an unblemished century for his country Surrey against Somerset in a Division I County Championship game at The Oval yesterday.
The 38-year-old Sangakkara, who served a short stint as a national selector, was playing only his second game for the county this season. In April, conditions in England heavily favour seam bowlers and batsmen go through many struggles. But Sangakkara was dominant after Surrey won the toss and opted to bat first and went onto compile 171 as Surrey reached 347 for four.
Sangakkara, who retired from Test cricket last year, walked in in the eighth over of the innings and added 187 runs for the second wicket with opener Rory Burns.
He reached three figures with a straight six off left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe. He required just 96 deliveries for his century and hit 15 four and four sixes.
Sangakkara was dismissed for 171 that came off 176 deliveries with 24 fours and four sixes.
Two weeks ago, in his first game of the season against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Sangakkara scored 32 and 83.
Another former captain, Sanath Jayasuriya was asked to come out of retirement ten years ago when Sri Lanka toured England in 2006 after opener Marvan Atapattu was ruled out of the tour with a back injury. Jayasuriya is tipped to take over as Chairman of Selectors later this month.
Given Sri Lanka’s recent struggles, cricket officials will be tempted to send word to the star batsman to fill up the vacant number three slot of the national team.
Sangakkara teamed up with Kevin Pietersen last season as Surrey competing in Division II got promoted to the top division. Current Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford was Surrey’s Head Coach last season.
The national cricket team will travel to England next week and will play play three Tests, five ODIs and a T-20 International.
