EDITORIAL - Bouquets for Mahela as he leaves centerstage

19 August 2014 09:10 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

There will be many to praise cricketing legend Mahela Jayawardena’s silky cover drive or the crafty glance as he retired from the test cricket arena with 11,814 runs averaging just below 50. Coaches will no doubt ask their students to watch footage of Mahela playing his strokes so as to fine-tune their batting technique. There will also be enough people to compliment Mahela for his fielding, particularly as a specialist catcher in the slip cordon. At the same time his temperament as a captain will always be remembered. Mahela is one of the most successful captains Sri Lanka has ever produced. As a captain he showed all the leadership qualities an ideal leader should posses -- being modest most of the time and being aggressive when the circumstances demanded.

But is that all? Will Mahela be only remembered for his cricketing legacy? No. There is a special trait that Mahela has, which is as important to a cricketer as to a person who is involved in any other sport or profession. That is, doing the right thing at the right time. That is one lesson anybody could take from Mahaela’s character apart from his cricketing prowess.

When the situation required runs Mahela scored them and when it was time to captain the Sri Lankan side, he did it committing himself to the job at hand a 100 per cent. When the time was right to step down from the captaincy, he did it gracefully, after taking Sri Lanka to World Cup final in the Caribbean, and gave the captaincy to his good friend Kumar Sangakkara, who also took Sri Lanka to a World Cup final and then stepped down following in Mahela’s footsteps. When Mahela felt that it was time to retire from T-20 cricket, providing youngsters who could hit the ball hard the opportunity he did not hesitate to step down though it created a huge uproar among some of the Sri Lankan cricket administrators. And finally when it was time to retire from test cricket, Mahela was spot-on in selecting the two-test Sri Lanka-Pakistan series. Mahela couldn’t ask for a better exit as Sri Lanka won the series, by beating Pakistan comprehensively in both tests. Mahela scored a half-century in his last test. Besides Sri Lanka’s President came to watch the match and showed his appreciation for what Mahela had done for cricket in Sri Lanka.

Since it was the school holidays, almost every Nalandian was in the Sinhalese Sports Club ground to congratulate one of the best products of their school. Look at the timing. Mahela’s mother was quoted as saying to a news website that her son’s decision to retire from test cricket might have been prompted by his new-born daughter as he wanted to spend more time with her. This statement is a clear testament of how he prioritizes his duties.

Among the other few cricketing legends produced by Sri Lanka, Mahela stands out as he coped with his multiple roles as a cricketer, captain, son, husband and a friend and most of all a good human being with character and integrity. We wish Mahela all success.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

EDITORIAL - Bouquets for Mahela as he leaves centerstage

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

April 15 declared a government holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Tax payers poised to cough up Rs.45 million on another debate on Easter attack

Renovation of Anula Maha Seya Mahanayake of Malwatta Chapter requests President to revoke agreement

Court of Appeal orders reallocation of Hajj quotas

Former Deputy Minister Thewarapperuma passes away after being electrocuted

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win