Kumar Sangakkara: 12,400 Test Runs, 4 Consecutive World Cup Centuries, and Sri Lanka's Greatest Batter
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) scored 12,400 Test runs at 57.40 average — the second-highest by any Sri Lanka player and 6th in world Test cricket history. He also scored 14,234 ODI runs at 41.98. In the 2015 World Cup, he became the only player to score 4 consecutive ODI centuries (vs Bangladesh, England, Australia, Scotland). He played 134 Tests and 404 ODIs from 2000 to 2015. He retired after the 2015 World Cup semi-final loss vs South Africa.
Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka's greatest batter and one of the finest in Test cricket history. He kept wicket for Sri Lanka for most of his career before focusing on pure batting in the final years. His partnership with Mahela Jayawardene (both batted in Sri Lanka's golden era 2004–2014) is considered one of the great batting collaborations in Test history.
The 4 Consecutive World Cup Centuries
At the 2015 World Cup, Sangakkara scored centuries in 4 consecutive innings (vs Bangladesh 105, England 117*, Australia 104, Scotland 124) — the only batsman to achieve this in ODI cricket history. Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals, where they lost to South Africa by 9 wickets. Sangakkara scored 54 in the semi-final — his World Cup tournament was statistically the greatest ever batting performance in a single World Cup (541 runs, average 108.2).
The Test Legacy
Sangakkara scored 319* vs Bangladesh at Chittagong in 2014 — his highest Test score and the highest by any SL batter other than Jayawardene (374). His 57.40 Test average is the highest among batters who played 100+ Tests in the modern era alongside Steve Smith and Don Bradman. In the 2011 WC final at Wankhede, he scored 103* on the losing side (Sri Lanka lost by 6 wickets to India) — one of only two losing-side centuries in WC finals (alongside Jayawardene 103* in the same match).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Jayawardene-Sangakkara partnership record, and why is it considered the greatest batting partnership in Test history?
Jayawardene-Sangakkara Test partnership: records and assessment. The Jayawardene-Sangakkara third-wicket partnership record was set in the Sri Lanka vs South Africa Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo, in July 2006. Jayawardene scored 374 (highest individual score for Sri Lanka; second-highest at the time behind Lara's 400*); Sangakkara scored 287. Their partnership of 624 runs is the record for the 3rd wicket in Test cricket and the joint-highest partnership for any wicket (equal with the 624 by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara — themselves). Sri Lanka scored 756/5 dec, the match ended in a draw. Why it is considered the greatest partnership: (1) The run total (624) is the highest 3rd-wicket partnership in Test history and one of the two highest for any wicket. (2) Both batters scored above 250 in the same innings — the only time two batters have both scored 250+ in the same innings in Test cricket history. (3) Both were batting at their statistical peak simultaneously — Jayawardene averaged 59 in the 2006 period; Sangakkara averaged 63. (4) The partnership lasted approximately 12.5 hours of play (752 minutes), requiring sustained concentration against an international bowling attack. Other notable great partnerships: Hutton/Leyland (382, ENG vs AUS 1934), Hobbs/Sutcliffe (opening partnerships for ENG 1920s), Ponting/Martyn (AUS vs IND 2004). But the sheer run total and individual score heights of Jayawardene-Sangakkara make it unique.