Why Kumar Sangakkara is one of the greatest Test batsmen of all time

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara is arguably the best Test batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced. With his exquisite stroke making, impeccable keeping skills, dastardly tactics and acerbic articulation, Sanga has served both Sri Lanka and cricket alike. Owner of many cricket records himself, the former skipper of Sri Lanka has been a great ambassador for the sport of cricket. Well known for his eloquence, Sangakkara is the only active cricketer and the youngest to have made an MCC Lecture.

The elegant left-handed batsman from Sri Lanka is seen sitting on a lot of record tables. Yet he is rarely spoken in the same breath as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Ricky Ponting. The most famous reasons given for his exclusion from the elite panel of batsmen is that most of his runs have come against minnows and that he has scored most part of his runs on the flat roads of the sub-continent. Dissecting his records and performing an in depth analysis on his test record prove otherwise.

Sangakkara’s record as wicket-keeper batsman and as a specialist batsman

Sanga’s record needs to be split into two since he has played Tests both as a keeper batsman and as a specialist batsman. Since, squatting and crouching for days can suck incredible amount of energy from a keeper, coming out to bat, a keeper will never be able to give his best. He batted at number 3 generally, which made Sanga’s job even tougher.

Most often Sanga was out to the crease facing the new ball as early as the first over, after days of hard job behind the stumps. It is no-brainer that keeping to the wiles of Muttiah Muralitharan is a cumbersome task. To have done that job immaculately and to have batted at number 3, is indeed a superhuman effort.

Sangakkara’s already wondrous Test record become unconquerable without keeping gloves

Sanga’s overall Test career record

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
overall	2000-2014	128	221	17	11988	319	58.76	22124	54.18	37	51	10	1454	47

Sanga’s record as a designated keeper

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
filtered	2000-2008	48	81	4	3117	230	40.48	5988	52.05	7	11	4	419	9

Sanga’s record as a specialist batsman

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
filtered	2000-2014	80	140	13	8871	319	69.85	16136	54.97	30	40	6	1035	38

His records are far better when he plays as a specialist batsman which he has been doing regularly since 2008. Even though he averages only in the 40s as a designated wicket-keeper, only 4 players average better than him, having played a minimum of 20 Test matches as a keeper batsman.

List of wicket-keeper batsmen in the descending order of Test average with a minimum of 20 Tests

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
AB de Villiers (SA)	2004-2014	21	35	3	1823	169	56.96	6	7	0
A Flower (Zim)	1992-2002	55	100	18	4404	232*	53.70	12	23	4
AC Gilchrist (Aus)	1999-2008	96	137	20	5570	204*	47.60	17	26	14
LEG Ames (Eng)	1929-1939	44	67	12	2387	149	43.40	8	7	5
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2008	48	81	4	3117	230	40.48	7	11	4

Sanga’s Test record in different parts of the world

The major complaint about him is that he has not scored consistently away from home and that most of his runs have come in the subcontinent.

Overall test record in different countries

Country	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Australia	2004-2012	5	10	1	543	192	60.33	1050	51.71	1	5	1	69	1
Bangladesh	2006-2014	6	10	0	783	319	78.30	1331	58.82	2	4	1	86	11
England	2002-2014	11	22	1	862	147	41.04	1912	45.08	2	5	0	105	0
India	2005-2009	6	10	0	365	137	36.50	826	44.18	1	0	0	47	1
New Zealand	2005-2006	4	7	2	334	156*	66.80	509	65.61	2	0	0	45	2
Pakistan	2002-2009	5	9	1	695	230	86.87	1099	63.23	3	3	0	91	4
South Africa	2000-2012	8	16	0	572	108	35.75	1175	48.68	1	3	1	78	1
Sri Lanka	2000-2014	71	116	11	6633	287	63.17	11902	55.73	22	24	7	809	21
U.A.E.	2011-2014	6	12	1	682	211	62.00	1413	48.26	2	4	0	62	4
West Indies	2003-2008	4	7	0	238	75	34.00	516	46.12	0	3	0	24	0
Zimbabwe	2004-2004	2	2	0	281	270	140.50	391	71.86	1	0	0	38	2

As a specialist batsman

Grouping	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
Australia	2004-2012	4	8	1	541	192	77.28	1029	52.57	1	5	0	69	1
Bangladesh	2008-2014	4	7	0	668	319	95.42	1153	57.93	2	3	0	72	10
England	2011-2014	5	10	0	526	147	52.60	1099	47.86	2	3	0	64	0
India	2009-2009	3	5	0	241	137	48.20	531	45.38	1	0	0	31	1
New Zealand	2006-2006	2	4	2	268	156*	134.00	367	73.02	2	0	0	34	2
Pakistan	2004-2009	3	5	0	300	104	60.00	469	63.96	1	3	0	37	0
South Africa	2000-2012	5	10	0	372	108	37.20	842	44.18	1	2	1	46	1
Sri Lanka	2002-2014	43	72	9	4778	287	75.84	8368	57.09	17	17	5	561	17
U.A.E.	2011-2014	6	12	1	682	211	62.00	1413	48.26	2	4	0	62	4
West Indies	2003-2008	3	5	0	214	75	42.80	474	45.14	0	3	0	21	0
Zimbabwe	2004-2004	2	2	0	281	270	140.50	391	71.86	1	0	0	38	2

Sangakkara’s overall Test record is mediocre only in India, South Africa, West Indies and England. West Indies is the only place he has not scored a century in. Since Sangakkara has played only 4 Tests in the Caribbean, that doesn't gauge his performance there. Sangakkara has a whopping average in Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

But as a specialist batsman, Sangakkara’s Test average falls below 50 only in India and West Indies. His averages are supreme in all other countries, vouching for his ability to play swing and seam without difficulties.

Sangakkara’s away Test average

A batsman's ability with the bat is calibrated through his performances away from home.

Sanga’s overall record away from home

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	57	105	6	5355	319	54.09	10222	52.38	15	27	3	645	26

Sanga's average falls to 54.09 in away matches, which is 4.67 less than his overall average. Yet an average of 54 is still better than most of the other prominent batsmen.

Sanga's away test record as a specialist batsman

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	37	68	4	4093	319	63.95	7768	52.69	13	23	1	474	21

As a specialist batsman, Sangakkara's Test record reaches the startling 60s away from home.

It is widely argued that his away record excluding Asia is below par.

Away Test record excluding Asia

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	34	64	4	2830	270	47.16	5553	5.96	7	16	2	359	6

Sanga’s Test average falls to 47.16 outside Asia. Out of the 34 matches Sanga has played outside Asia, he played as a wicket-keeper batsman in 13 of those matches. When these Test matches are excluded, Sangakkara's average yet again reaches a gargantuan 61.16. The only blemish that can be cited in his away record excluding Asia is that he has scored heavily against Zimbabwe.

Away Test record excluding Asia as a specialist batsman

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	21	39	3	2202	270	61.16	4202	52.40	7	13	1	272	6

Away Test record excluding Asia and Zimbabwe

When Zimbabwe is omitted Sanga’s average falls to 43.94

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	32	62	4	2549	192	43.94	5162	49.38	6	16	2	321	4

However as a specialist batsman Sanga averages 56.50 with the bat. Even though there is a difference of 4.66, his record in challenging conditions as a specialist batsman still stands out.

Away test record excluding Asia and Zimbabwe as a Specialist batsman

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	19	37	3	1921	192	56.50	3811	50.40	6	13	1	234	4

Sanga’s test record against top Test teams

Most who gloat against Sanga's Test record, maliciously claim that most of his runs have come against minnows. It has been a common trait in great batsmen to score heavily against below par teams. Sanga too has scored plethora of runs against both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. But his record sans his brilliance against these two teams is still of supreme quality.

Sachin averages 51.01 against all oppositions other than Zimbabwe and Bangladesh as opposed to his career Test average of 53.78. So branding Sanga as a minnow basher, just because his average falls down slightly against quality Test teams is preposterous.

Test record excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (both at home and away)

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	108	194	15	9636	287	53.83	18337	52.54	28	43	9	1177	27

Once again his record as a specialist batsman reaches a humongous average in the 60s.

Test record excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (both at home and away) as a specialist batsman

	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
	2000-2014	68	123	11	6978	287	62.30	13099	53.27	22	35	6	819	21

Batting average in matches won

Sangakkara has been a genuine match-winner for Sri Lanka in the Test arena. Sangakkara averages 74.58 in the matches Sri Lanka have won, which is the 4th best by any batsmen. Only Don Bradman, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Garry Sobers have better averages.

Average in matches won (min 20 Test matches)

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
DG Bradman (Aus)	1929-1948	30	43	6	4813	299*	130.08	23	4	3
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak)	1992-2007	49	76	16	4690	329	78.16	17	20	4
GS Sobers (WI)	1956-1974	31	46	6	3097	365*	77.42	12	11	1
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	52	80	8	5370	287	74.58	19	20	4
GS Chappell (Aus)	1972-1984	38	62	11	3595	204	70.49	14	16	3
WR Hammond (Eng)	1927-1946	29	44	7	2584	251	69.83	10	6	3
JC Adams (WI)	1992-2000	21	30	8	1534	174*	69.72	4	8	1
HP Tillakaratne (SL)	1992-2003	24	32	10	1534	204*	69.72	5	6	3
SR Waugh (Aus)	1987-2003	86	120	27	6460	200	69.46	25	25	6
Younis Khan (Pak)	2000-2014	33	57	11	3138	267	68.21	10	12	3
JB Hobbs (Eng)	1908-1930	28	45	5	2720	211	68.00	7	14	1
Saeed Anwar (Pak)	1994-2001	23	36	2	2254	188*	66.29	8	12	1
R Dravid (India)	1996-2011	56	92	14	5131	270	65.78	15	23	2

Average in matches won (min 20 Test matches) excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh

Sanga averages 72.33 in all the matches Sri Lanka have won barring those against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and still he sits 4th in the list.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
DG Bradman (Aus)	1929-1948	30	43	6	4813	299*	130.08	23	4	3
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak)	1992-2007	36	56	12	3740	329	85.00	13	18	3
GS Sobers (WI)	1956-1974	31	46	6	3097	365*	77.42	12	11	1
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	34	57	6	3689	287	72.33	14	12	3
GS Chappell (Aus)	1972-1984	38	62	11	3595	204	70.49	14	16	3
WR Hammond (Eng)	1927-1946	29	44	7	2584	251	69.83	10	6	3
JB Hobbs (Eng)	1908-1930	28	45	5	2720	211	68.00	7	14	1
AB de Villiers (SA)	2005-2014	41	60	8	3501	217*	67.32	13	15	0
L Hutton (Eng)	1937-1955	27	48	7	2678	364	65.31	8	8	0
SR Waugh (Aus)	1987-2003	81	115	24	5914	200	64.98	22	23	6
KF Barrington (Eng)	1955-1968	31	42	6	2319	163	64.41	8	10	2
Younis Khan (Pak)	2000-2014	24	43	7	2315	267	64.30	7	10	1

Centuries in matches won

Sangakkara has 19 match-winning Test centuries which is surpassed only by Sachin, Kallis, Hayden, Bradman, Ponting and Steve Waugh. But out of all batsmen who have fared better than Sanga, only Bradman has played fewer tests than the Sri Lankan.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
RT Ponting (Aus)	1995-2012	108	178	24	9157	257	59.46	30	42	8
SR Waugh (Aus)	1987-2003	86	120	27	6460	200	69.46	25	25	6
DG Bradman (Aus)	1929-1948	30	43	6	4813	299*	130.08	23	4	3
ML Hayden (Aus)	1997-2009	71	123	12	6154	380	55.44	23	19	5
JH Kallis (SA)	1996-2013	82	124	22	6379	224	62.53	22	28	4
SR Tendulkar (India)	1990-2013	72	113	17	5946	248*	61.93	20	24	2
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	52	80	8	5370	287	74.58	19	20	4

Excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh

When the records against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh are stripped off, Sanga has scored 14 centuries in winning consequences. Sachin has scored an equal number of centuries and Lara does not even feature in the list. 50% of Sanga's centuries have resulted in a victory for Sri Lanka.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
RT Ponting (Aus)	1995-2012	101	169	22	8607	257	58.55	28	39	8
DG Bradman (Aus)	1929-1948	30	43	6	4813	299*	130.08	23	4	3
SR Waugh (Aus)	1987-2003	81	115	24	5914	200	64.98	22	23	6
ML Hayden (Aus)	1997-2009	65	115	11	5485	197	52.74	21	17	5
JH Kallis (SA)	1996-2013	71	111	17	5572	224	59.27	19	24	4
MJ Clarke (Aus)	2004-2014	57	93	12	4636	329*	57.23	16	15	4
JL Langer (Aus)	1993-2007	65	112	10	5077	250	49.77	15	18	5
ME Waugh (Aus)	1991-2002	71	109	12	4704	153*	48.49	15	27	7
GS Chappell (Aus)	1972-1984	38	62	11	3595	204	70.49	14	16	3
CG Greenidge (WI)	1974-1991	57	97	12	4653	226	54.74	14	18	6
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	34	57	6	3689	287	72.33	14	12	3
GC Smith (SA)	2002-2014	50	83	9	4309	259	58.22	14	19	2
SR Tendulkar (India)	1990-2013	61	98	13	4671	214	54.95	14	22	2

Win percentage after scoring a century

A batsman’s match-winning ability can be computed by the percentage of matches won after scoring a century. When Sangakkara scores a century, Sri Lanka wins 50% of the games (excluding both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh). This is phenomenal considering the fact that Lara and Sachin has a comparatively lower percentages of 18.75 and 32.55 respectively.

Sangakkara can be considered a machine that propagates centuries at the Test level. Once again detesters claim that most of his centuries have come against against bleaks. But the number of innings he takes to score a test century excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh is still better than both Sachin and Lara.

Innings per century excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh

The lower, the better

Sangakkara scores a century once in every 6.93 innings. He scores a century in every 4.071 test innings in matches won. In other words, Sangakkara scores a century in nearly every 4 innings when Sri Lanka wins. Sachin’s and Lara’s records are far below than that of Sangakkara.

Number of double centuries excluding those against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh

Sangakkara has 10 Test double centuries, just two less than that of Don Bradman. 6 of his double centuries have come against top quality teams. It is noteworthy that he scored a belligerent 192 against Australia in Hobart and narrowly missed a double ton when Rudi Koertzen, the umpire mistakenly gave him out.

All of Lara’s double centuries have against top teams. Sachin has scored only 4 such double centuries.

Player	Double Centuries
BC Lara	9
KC Sangakkara	6
SR Tendulkar	4

Number of Man of the Match Awards

Man of the match awards is an excellent tool to measure a player's match-winning capability. Sangakkara has won 16 man of the match awards in Tests which is better than Sachin's 14 and Lara's 12. The only batsman with a higher number of Man of the match awards than Sangakkara is Kallis, which may also be because of his all round capability.

Number of man of the match awards

Player	Span	Mat	Awards
JH Kallis (ICC/SA)	1995-2013	166	23
M Muralitharan (ICC/SL)	1992-2010	133	19
Wasim Akram (Pak)	1985-2002	104	17
SK Warne (Aus)	1992-2007	145	17
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	128	16
RT Ponting (Aus)	1995-2012	168	16
CEL Ambrose (WI)	1988-2000	98	14
SR Waugh (Aus)	1985-2004	168	14
SR Tendulkar (India)	1989-2013	200	14
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)	1997-2014	149	13
IT Botham (Eng)	1977-1992	102	12
GC Smith (ICC/SA)	2002-2014	117	12
BC Lara (ICC/WI)	1990-2006	131	12

Sangakkara has won 4 man of the series awards. Sachin has 5 and Lara has 4.

Number of man of the series awards

Player	No. of Man of the Series Awards
BC Lara	4
KC Sangakkara	4
SR Tendulkar	5

Sangakkara’s cumulative Test average

Sanga’s cumulative average graph clearly shows that he has been consistent through out his Test career. The linear average of Sanga has always been in the ascend. He has never averaged below 50 since the 15th of December, 2006.

In terms of number of innings required, Sangakkara is the fastest batsman to reach 8,000, 9,000, and 11,000 runs in Test cricket. He is also the joint fastest to 10,000. His rate of run scoring per match is far greater than that of Sachin Tendulkar. Sanga’s graph almost aligns with that of Lara except for the tail end, at which Sanga seems to edge ahead of Lara.

Average in the 3rd and 4th innings of a Test match

A batsman’s record in the 3rd and 4th innings of a Test match would show how good a batsman is during pressure situations and under difficult batting conditions. Sangakkara has a far better 3rd and 4th innings average than Sachin and Lara.

Player	Average in the 3rd and 4th Innings (Excl. Zim & Ban)
KC Sangakkara	53.32
BC Lara	38.96
SR Tendulkar	42.95

Sangakkara against world-class bowlers

Sangakkara averages 50.85 when facing oppositions that had any of these following bowlers.

James Anderson or Stuart Broad or Allan Donald or Mitchel Johnson or Brett Lee or Glenn McGrath or Shoaib Akhtar or Dale Steyn or Graeme Swann or Waqar Younis or Shane Warne.

	Span	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100
	2001-2014	30	2746	287	50.85	7

An average of 50 is commendable, since the aforementioned bowlers are known for their menacing ability.

500 runs in a Test Series

Sangakkara has scored 500 runs in a series once, when he amassed 516 runs from 3 games, scoring at an average of 86 which included two centuries against Pakistan in UAE in 2011/2012. It should be noted that Sangakkara has never been a part of a 4 match or 5 match test series. Even though Sachin has played 5 and 4 match test series, he has not scored in excess of 500 runs in any of those series. Brian Lara has scored over 500 runs in a series 7 times, but he has scored only once in excess of 500 runs in a 3 match series.

Record at Number 3

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	120	198	15	11317	319	61.84	36	49	9
R Dravid (ICC/India)	1996-2012	136	219	20	10524	270	52.88	28	50	8
RT Ponting (Aus)	1996-2011	113	196	20	9904	257	56.27	32	43	9
HM Amla (SA)	2006-2014	70	113	11	5753	311*	56.40	20	26	6
DG Bradman (Aus)	1930-1948	40	56	7	5078	334	103.63	20	10	5

Sangakkara has scored the most number of runs at the difficult number 3 position, which proves how good a batsman he is. Since a number 3 should be able to play both pace bowling and spin bowling equally well, only batsman of exacting qualities can thrive at number 3.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
DG Bradman (Aus)	1930-1948	40	56	7	5078	334	103.63	20	10	5
KF Barrington (Eng)	1960-1967	27	40	6	2626	172	77.23	13	7	0
WR Hammond (Eng)	1928-1937	37	52	6	3440	336*	74.78	14	4	1
KC Sangakkara (SL)	2000-2014	120	198	15	11317	319	61.84	36	49	9
IVA Richards (WI)	1976-1986	45	59	2	3508	291	61.54	12	14	2
BC Lara (WI)	1992-2006	45	66	4	3749	400*	60.46	9	13	4

Sangakkara’s average at number 3 is bettered only by Bradman, Barrington and Hammond.

Test Ratings

Sanga’s test career rating of 938 is the 6th best ever

Sanga’s career best rating of 938 is greater than that achieved by Kallis, Lara and Tendulkar which speaks volumes about his ability to take a game away from the oppositions.

ICC Awards

Sangakkara was chosen for the ICC Test XI as a wicket-keeping batsman in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2010 he made it to the ICC Test XI as a specialist batsman and in 2011 he was named as the captain of the ICC Test side. He won the LG People's Choice award in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he was named the Test Player of the Year and also made his way into the ICC Test XI.

Sangakkara has improved immensely since making his debut in Tests. Once primarily a back foot player, he is now able to thread the field with extreme elegance off the front foot. He is improving day by day and match by match. But he doesn't get the same puffery as Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara. It may be because he is not a ball basher but an accumulator. But since 2013, he has added another dimension to his batting by trying to dominate bowling attacks.

Even though he hasn’t played as many games as he should have overseas, his stats plus some of the innings he played overseas manifest his batting prowess. Just in his 6th match Sangakkara opened the innings for Sri Lanka against South Africa in South Africa braving the venomous pace of Allan Donald, Makhaya Nitni and Jacque Kallis and scored 98. He was the last man to be dismissed as no other Sri Lankan batsman crossed 50.

In the 4th innings of a Test against Australia in Hobart, on a crumbling surface Sangakkara bludgeoned 192 against an attack that had Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clarke and Brett Lee. In comparison to other eminent players, Sanga hadn’t had the chance to play much overseas Tests. In the measly Tests he has played overseas, he has shown the world what he is made of. His performances in England showed how well he has adapted to the English conditions after the spree of earlier failures. In 2014 in England Sanga averaged 85 with the bat.

Sangakkara's stats and his performances show that he deserves a place along with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Statistically, he is the best Test batsman after Sir Donald Bradman. Based on performances even though the elegant left-hander may not have done enough to be called the best after Bradman, he definitely stands out of the rest of the batsman.

The Sri Lankan stalwart has stats that prove that he is as good as Tendulkar or Lara, if not better. Yet, the recognition he deserves still eludes him. May be, had he been born just a few kilometers north of Sri Lanka, you could have heard people saying “Sanga is the best”.

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