Ministry of Class

Just like their entrepreneurial brainchild, the seafood connoisseur chain ‘Ministry of Crab’ that serves fresh cuisine with a no-freezer policy, this dynamic duo has delivered oven-fresh, delectable batsmanship in a glorious stint, which is now an integral part of the cricketing folklore worldwide.? Their playground feats, which can only be described as ‘Ministry of Class’ exudes a classic, sophisticated Sri Lankan charm, adorned with an assortment of exquisite shots to match the crab, prawn, clam, and oyster varieties of their restaurant.? ?

There are few cricketing pairs to match the magnetic charm of Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara and Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene, fondly known to the world as Sanga and Mahela. The very mention of the names brings to mind scores of classy knocks including the epoch-making 624 runs for the third wicket (at 60 + strike rate spanning two and a half days and a mammoth 157 overs) against South Africa at Colombo’s Singhalese Sporting Club ground. The colossal record stands to this day, even as both players have long retired and now watch cricket from the stands.

Both had their trademark ways at the crease. Mahela seemed to have some secret pact with the scoreboard, he kept it ticking with hardly anyone noticing until he had scaled significant scores and milestones. His brand of aggression was matchless, punishing marquee bowlers with copybook technique and near-orthodox improvisations.

His left-handed mate always greeted the opposition with a sumptuous treat. How Sanga watched the ball intently even as it left the bowler’s hand, how his legs swiftly changed positions in real time to create the perfect poise, and how the ball briefly met the open face of his bat before flying to the ropes with gay abandon was an Eastman colour spectacle! ??

The twosome bumped into each other during school-level cricket games, Sanga representing Kandy and Mahela playing as a Colombo lad. This starry-eyed interaction was the god sent foundation for their Fevicol bond later in the national team, whether as peers or as trusted soldiers under each other’s captaincy. Their chemistry at the crease, one feels, could also be partly attributed to the fact that Sanga is ambidextrous, who despite being a southpaw, is in perfect sync with the right-handed Mahela. No wonder, the collective flair and fluency have created many a memorable knock by the two.

The super athletic frame of Sanga and super functional fitness of Mahela made for a potent right hand left hand combo marked by such silken grace and panache that left the opposition more amazed than annoyed, watching their cover drives rush to the boundary along distinct trajectories. Their field exploits, one behind the stumps, and one in the slips, were sights to behold, so was their clockwork collaboration with Murali, one of the greatest spin wizards the game has ever seen.

To the distant but discerning observer, Mahela’s face wore a staple pensive expression, hinting at a man who is amid the crowd but not exactly part of it. One initially attributed this aspect of his persona to reticence, but it was much later that it was put into perspective, when media reports revealed his personal tragedy: the untimely demise of his cricket prodigy brother Dhisal from brain tumour at age 16. Thankfully, timely counsel from a revered temple monk and persistent persuasion from legend Arjuna Ranatunga made Mahela shun his decision of quitting the sport post the irreparable loss. It is plainly apparent that Mahela continued his innings to bring Dhisal’s unfinished mission to fruition, and thank god he did! ?There couldn’t have been a better tribute to his departed brother than Mahela’s venerated success at the highest level. And there couldn’t have been a better tribute to Mahela that Naseer Hussain’s empathic compliment when the former scored a terrific ton in the World cup final against India in 2011: ‘High class innings from a high class player!’

Sanga, a violin player of some repute and a tenacious law student, is in a zone and league of his own. He understands the game really well, and he had all the hallmarks that he appreciates in the batting greats; just that being the unassuming great that he is, he never attributes them to himself – whether rock-solid defence, bewildering judgement of length, astute rotation of strike, smart manoeuvring of the ball into thin gaps, and a masterful negation of LBW possibilities.

Instead, he laments on not being a master of sweeps and is all praise for superlative exponents like Younis Khan. All his career, he never looked like playing for reputation which is precisely why he had no qualms hanging up his boots while he could still run with ease. As regards his holistic vision, he has few parallels in sport. The dollops of wit and wisdom from his 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture were a perfect blend of classroom knowledge and playground learnings; given how he succintly traced the genesis and evolution of Sri Lankan cricket and his candid commentary on burning issues facing cricket: ?role of technology, governance of the game, future of test cricket, and the bane of corruption. {I loved the way he underlined the common genesis of Colin Cowdrey’s and Sri Lanka’s love for cricket, which was the addictive aromatic beverage called tea} ???

Post retirement, the Sanga-Mahela partnership continues unabated… managing business ventures, contributing to charitable causes, providing aid to social development foundations, organising relief work during natural disasters, bridging rural-urban disparity, and running empowerment centres for their fellow countryfolk.? ??

Sanga in the comm box was one of the best things that happened to cricket on the sidelines in a long time. His actionable insights on the art and science of batting and wicketkeeping are refreshingly original, unlike the rehashed sermons of many so-called luminaries who happen to share box and screen space with him. Mahela’s reassuring presence in the Mumbai Indians dug out has been a redeeming feature of the franchise amid the mayhem that transpired in the season gone by. Mahela may not be a gifted orator like Sanga but he speaks from conviction, reflective of his substance. He probably left the style confined to his playing days with the bat.

Hope our learned observers and renowned experts don’t overindulge in stupid endeavours like pitting the two against each other, or the two against other legends, for the sake of ludicrous comparisons, hope they also stop short of reading too much into subjective aspects like the duo’s relatively average run outside the subcontinent, a chink in their armour which is a function of many factors – both controllable and uncontrollable - but doesn’t take away even an ounce of the pair’s unique credence and universal significance.

The Sanga-Mahela friendship saga is indeed ripe with rich cinematic ingredients that can easily make way for a global blockbuster hit. Hope film folks – Hollywood, Bollywood or any other wood - wake up to the humungous class and mass possibilities and produce an engaging motion picture, unlike the artificially sweetened, badly bloated biopics we have endured till date in the guise of solemn tributes.??

Pic courtesy: https://www.ministryofcrab.com

Janath Punchihewa Vighnesh Shahane Manoj Badale