Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2nd Test, Kandy, 3nd day

'This is right up there with my other hundreds'

Charlie Austin

July 24, 2005

Kumar Sangakkara's century meant that Sri Lanka finished the third day of the Kandy Test well on top. Here's what Sangakkara had to say after the day's play:

Kumar Sangakkara en route to his ninth Test century © Getty Images

On scoring a century in front of his home crowd
It was always a dream of mine to get a hundred in Kandy and it was also a situation which the team needed runs. It was a great team effort today. There was a lot of joy at reaching my hundred as the last three innings I have played were great personal disappointments. Once I got a start here my only ambition was to stay out there as long as possible and work as hard as possible. It was one of the hardest-working hundreds that I have scored and it was in a situation where we needed to score over 300 to win the game. This is right up there with my other hundreds.

On the pitch
I thought it was a difficult wicket but it was slightly easier for the left-handers as the soft spots were outside the right-handers off stump. But it was a challenge and I enjoyed it very much.

On his technical changes before this innings
No matter how many runs you score cricket is about keeping things simple and in the last few innings that is something I have forgotten to do. One of the things that I realised was that I was not focusing enough on the ball and that was one of the changes I did before this innings and it worked.

On his non-selection for the World XI Test squad for the ICC Super Series
Selectors like God move in mysterious ways, but as long as I do a good job for my country then it does not matter what comes after that. The recognition that comes from being selected for teams like that is something that comes after doing your job for the side. Selection is still up for grabs and it is just about performing day in and day out on the field.

On the state of the game
We were looking for something over 250 and anything over 300 would be a bonus. Right now, we are just going to try and bat them out of the game.

Charlie Austin is Cricinfo's Sri Lankan correspondent

© Cricinfo

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Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2nd Test, Kandy

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Sri Lanka v West Indies at Kandy

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West Indies tour of Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka

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Asgiriya Stadium