Genial Sri Lankans still the best

Dubai: One of the enduring legacy that the former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga has left on his country's game, apart from winning a World Cup, is to serve with a smile. From the old warhorse Sanath Jayasuriya to their latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, it's a quality which has made the bunch so popular in all the cricket playing countries.

Video: Top cricket stars descend on ICC awards

Beneath the infectious smiles, of course, lies the steely pride and resolve to succeed - something which saw them being rewarded with two of the most significant awards on the LG ICC Awards night on Wednesday night. While Mahela Jayawardene's men won the 'Spirit of Cricket' for the second year running, Mendis was a hands down winner as the Emerging Player of the Year.

Going up to receive the award from Tim May, Chief Executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), Jayawardene paid his dues to Ranatunga - now a greying President of Lankan cricket board and very much present the ceremony.

"It was Ranatunga who started it all, he had always stood up for the cause of Sri Lankan cricket."

Little later at the media session, in between playing the interpreter for his mystery spinner Mendis, Jayawardene was sound in defence while explaining his team's philosophy.

"You have to be aggressive and passionate when you play for your country - you have to want to win. But you don't have to cross the line and be personal. There are ways of being aggressive while still controlling your anger and passion," he said.

Great feeling

For the pocket-sized captain, whose performance during the 2007-08 season earned him nominations for both the top awards at stake (Cricketer of the Year & Test Cricketer of the Year), winning the team honours was no less important.

"It feels great to win this one because this is a team award, it's like winning a tournament. On the field, the lads give everything they've got, so to do it in the right spirit as well means a lot to me and my teammates," he observed.

Sitting next to him, Mendis may not have been able to latch on to the conversation in English, but was perfectly in sync with his captain when it came to the team's cause.

Asked via Jayawardene as to how he plans to handle the pressure of expectations from now on, Mendis had this to offer: "I just want to perform and help my team...wickets don't matter."

Anybody he wanted to dedicate this award to? A shy smile, little splutter in Sinhalese, which again meant: "To the team."

Therein lies the success story of the Lankans!

ICC Cricket awards 2008

TEAMS

ICC Test Team of the Year: Graeme Smith (RSA, capt), Virender Sehwag (IND), Mahela Jayawardene (SRI), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WIS), Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Jacques Kallis (RSA), Kumar Sangakkara (SRI, wkt), Brett Lee (AUS), Ryan Sidebottom (ENG), Dale Steyn (RSA), Muttiah Muralitharan (SRI). 12th man: Stuart Clark (AUS).

ICC ODI Team of the Year: Herschelle Gibbs (RSA), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Ricky Ponting (AUS, capt), Younis Khan (PAK), Andrew Symonds (AUS), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND, wkt), Farveez Maharoof (SRI), Daniel Vettori (NZL), Brett Lee (AUS), Mitchell Johnson (AUS) and Nathan Bracken (AUS). 12th man: Salman Butt (PAK).