Sharjah: It was a nostalgic moment for former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya on Thursday when Sharjah Cricket Stadium came alive again by staging a Test match nearly a decade since its last.
Jayasuriya holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue, when he trashed the Indian attack for 189 runs in the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy final on October 29, 2000.
The batting legend was back again as a commentator for the third Test between his nation and Pakistan, but during a break he went to the media box to share some of the glorious moments of his career.
Speaking to Gulf News, Jayasuriya said: "I feel very good and happy to be back in Sharjah. My last international game here was in 2003 and I am so happy to see this venue staging international cricket again. Sharjah fans need this breakthrough and I am very happy about it."
Happy memories
Asked about his knock of 189, he said: "I felt very happy when I got those runs. I have very happy memories on this ground."
Jayasuriya's knock, which came off 161 balls with 21 boundaries and four sixes, helped Sri Lanka win the final by 245 runs. He hit 12 half-centuries and two centuries here.
Talking about Sri Lanka's prospects in this Test match, Jayasuriya said: "Sri Lanka should aim to get as many runs as possible in the first innings. Keep batting and scoring runs, that is what needed to level the series."
Jayasuriya feels that Sri Lankans have realised the mistake they committed in the first two Test matches.
"To win Test matches batting is the key. It did not click for them and I think they have realised this mistake. They have the experience to come back. I hope they all will get together and do well in this Test match."
Asked about his impression on Sri Lanka's one-day squad, Jayasuriya said: "It is a young and good experienced team. I'm sure it will be a really good one-day series here."
