Sanath Jayasuriya was born 30 June 1969 in Matara. An all-rounder, he has been a member of the Sri Lankan cricket team since 1989. He is the only player to score more than 13,000 runs and capture more than 300 wickets in one day internationals. He is also regarded by many critics and supporters as one of the best ODI players.
Along with partner Romesh Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya revolutionized one day international batting with his aggressive tactics during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997 and served as captain of the Sri Lankan team in 38 Test matches from 1999 to 2003. He is a very useful all-rounder with a good batting average in both Test cricket and One Day Internationals, and an excellent batting strike rate in One Day Internationals.
As a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has a reasonable bowling average and economy rate. He regularly helps to decrease the workloads of strike bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas and as of August 2007 has 400 international wickets.
Jayasuriya held the record for the highest Test score made by a Sri Lankan, 340 against India in 1997. This effort was part of a second-wicket partnership with Roshan Mahanama that set the then all-time record for any partnership in Test history, with 576 runs. Both records were surpassed in July 2006 when fellow Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 as part of a 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa. On 20 September 2005, during the Second Test of the home series against Bangladesh, Jayasuriya became the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests, and the 33rd Test cricketer to achieve this feat.
Jayasuriya holds the world's third highest ODI score, jointly with Viv Richards, which is 189 runs against India. As of February 2007 he holds the four highest individual scores by a Sri Lankan, and seven of the top nine.
He currently holds the record fastest fifty in ODIs, scored off just 17 balls. Jayasuriya was the previous record-holder for the fastest century (off 48 balls), before losing that claim to Shahid Afridi of Pakistan. Currently he has held the world record for most ODI sixes. He used to hold the record of scoring most runs in an ODI over (30; he has achieved this remarkable feat twice).This record is now with South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs (36 runs in an over).
In April 2008, he joined the Mumbai Indians to play in the IPL T20. After scoring a devastating 114 not out off just 48 balls for the Mumbai Indian against Chennai Jayasuriya regained his position in the one day side after he had been dropped for the West Indies tour. He then followed up his century with a 17-ball 48 not out to surpass the Kolkata Knight Riders score of 67 in just the 6th over resulting in the biggest victory in Twenty20 history in terms of balls remaining.
Along with partner Romesh Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya revolutionized one day international batting with his aggressive tactics during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997 and served as captain of the Sri Lankan team in 38 Test matches from 1999 to 2003. He is a very useful all-rounder with a good batting average in both Test cricket and One Day Internationals, and an excellent batting strike rate in One Day Internationals.
As a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has a reasonable bowling average and economy rate. He regularly helps to decrease the workloads of strike bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas and as of August 2007 has 400 international wickets.
Jayasuriya held the record for the highest Test score made by a Sri Lankan, 340 against India in 1997. This effort was part of a second-wicket partnership with Roshan Mahanama that set the then all-time record for any partnership in Test history, with 576 runs. Both records were surpassed in July 2006 when fellow Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 as part of a 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa. On 20 September 2005, during the Second Test of the home series against Bangladesh, Jayasuriya became the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests, and the 33rd Test cricketer to achieve this feat.
Jayasuriya holds the world's third highest ODI score, jointly with Viv Richards, which is 189 runs against India. As of February 2007 he holds the four highest individual scores by a Sri Lankan, and seven of the top nine.
He currently holds the record fastest fifty in ODIs, scored off just 17 balls. Jayasuriya was the previous record-holder for the fastest century (off 48 balls), before losing that claim to Shahid Afridi of Pakistan. Currently he has held the world record for most ODI sixes. He used to hold the record of scoring most runs in an ODI over (30; he has achieved this remarkable feat twice).This record is now with South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs (36 runs in an over).
In April 2008, he joined the Mumbai Indians to play in the IPL T20. After scoring a devastating 114 not out off just 48 balls for the Mumbai Indian against Chennai Jayasuriya regained his position in the one day side after he had been dropped for the West Indies tour. He then followed up his century with a 17-ball 48 not out to surpass the Kolkata Knight Riders score of 67 in just the 6th over resulting in the biggest victory in Twenty20 history in terms of balls remaining.
