Bob Willis backing outgoing legends to flourish in the 2015 World Cup
Tuesday 16 December 2014 18:00, UK
Russel Arnold told Sky Sports that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene will be a “massive loss” for Sri Lanka when they retire.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene played their final one-day internationals on home turf on Tuesday as Sri Lanka defeated England by 87 runs to win the seven-match series 5-2.
They will certainly not be forgotten, not just for the cricket they played but because they are ambassadors for Sri Lanka.
The veteran batsmen will exit the one-day arena after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, though Sangakkara is expected to carry on playing Test cricket for the time being.
Arnold believes it will be difficult for Sri Lanka to replace their outgoing duo but stopped short of stating that Sangakkara and Jayawardene are the country’s greatest-ever players.
“Sangakkara and Jayawardene have carried the burden of the country and thrilled people every time, so they are going to be a massive loss,” said Arnold, who figured in 180 ODIs for Sri Lanka.
“They will certainly not be forgotten, not just for the cricket they played but because they are ambassadors for Sri Lanka in all forms.
“There was a wonderful atmosphere and a scramble for tickets to see these two legends of the game bat for the last time in ODIs in Colombo and there is a feeling of ‘what now?’
“You cannot compare players and say who is better, though, as the circumstances of Sri Lankan cricket have improved over the years.”
Sangakkara – the highest ODI run-scorer in 2014, with 1,256 runs from his 28 innings – and Jayawardene have helped Sri Lanka reach the previous two World Cup finals, where they lost to Australia (2007) and India (2011).
And Sky Sports pundit Bob Willis reckons the middle-order maestros can bat their team into contention to win the 2015 version when it commences down under on February 14.
“They are heroes of the game and two of the best players the world has seen,” said Willis.
"They have been great in the five-day arena but also adapted their games wonderfully in the shorter forms and Sri Lanka are there or thereabouts in world competitions because of them.
“I expect them to be there again in Australia and New Zealand come February and March.”
Watch the 2015 Cricket World Cup, live on Sky Sports.
