Congratulations to Kumar Sangakkara on what has been a memorable week for the Sri Lankan batsman.
First up he made is maiden test triple century, and innings that was his ninth double century and one that now leaves him second only to the great Sir Donald Bradman who had 12 scores of 200 or more.
Sangakkara also became the ninth and fastest test batsman to reach 11,000 test runs in a list headed by India’s Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921.
Not happy with becoming the third Sri Lankan batsman to register a triple century in a test match (Jayawardene 374 and Jayasriya 340 being the others) Sangakkara went out and notched a century in the second innings against Bangladesh. This achievement makes him only the second cricketer to score a triple century and a century in the same test match. Graham Gooch having been the first to achieve this in 1990 at Lords. HIs tally of 424 runs in the match fell short of Gooch’s record of 456 aggregate score.
Many will try and diminish Sangakkara’s achievement, but to as the much used cliche says you cannot determine your opposition. He also had to still apply himself. If it were that easy how come few have achieved the feat previously.
Whatever way you look at it, he has had a remarkable week, although it did all end rather ignominiously. He had hit a six to bring up his century in the second innings and notch a 144 ball hundred, but was bowled the very next ball trying to sweep Sohag Gazi.
