Sanath Jayasuriya

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sanath Jayasuriya

• Does Sanath Jayasuriya smoke?: Not Known

• Does Sanath Jayasuriya drink alcohol?: Yes

• He is one of the renowned all-rounder Sri Lankan cricketers; well-known for his striking performances and is famous to revolutionize ODI cricket with his attacking and explosive batting.

• He studied at St. Servatius’ College, Matara; where his cricketing talent was analyzed and honed by G.L. Galappathy (his college principal) and Lionel Wagasinghe (his college cricket coach). His performance was so good that he was selected as the captain of St. Thomas’–St. Servatius Cricket Encounter Team in 1988.

• In 1988, in the Outstation Segment, he was announced as the ‘Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.’ The same year, at the Observer School Cricket Awards, he received the awards for the “Best All-rounder” and “Best Batsman.”

  

• In the same year, he represented Sri Lanka in the inaugural ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup (held in Australia). A few months later, he was selected in Sri Lanka ‘B’ Team for a tour in Pakistan; where he scored two unbeaten double centuries.

• In 1989–90, he was inducted into the Sri Lankan cricket team for Australia tour.

• He played a great role in the victory of Sri Lanka in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He scored 221 runs including two half-centuries and captured 6 wickets in 6 matches. He won Man of the Tournament title for his overall contribution.

• In 1996, he was selected as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World and was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997.

• He is the first Sri Lankan cricketer who held the tag for the highest Test Scorer; which was 340 runs against India in 1997.

• He served as the Sri Lankan cricket team’s captain in 117 ODIs and 38 test matches from 1999 to 2003.

• In 2010, he joined politics as a Matara District candidate (UPFA, United People’s Freedom Alliance) and became the first cricketer to play while in the Parliament.

• In 2012, he participated in a popular Indian dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhlajaa.”

• In 2013, he was chosen as the chairman of cricket selection committee by the Sri Lanka Cricket Association.

• He held the record for the fastest fifty in ODIs (made in just 17 balls against Pakistan in 1996) for 19 years; until AB de Villiers surpassed it on 18 January 2015.

• He is the first cricketer to be selected as a UN Goodwill Ambassador by UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), Geneva for his commitment to the prevention of AIDS/HIV among the youth in Sri Lanka.

• He holds the record for the highest opening partnership in ODI history along with Upul Tharanga.

• He has received ‘Man of the Match’ title for 47 times in one-day international cricket.

• He has also received ‘Man of the Series’ title for 11 times in ODI cricket.

• He has made 6973 runs at an average of 40.07 with 31 half centuries and 14 centuries.