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Sri Lanka's run-machine

A 20-year old Mahela Jayawardene made an auspicious start to his Test career with a half-century against India in Colombo in August 1997, in a game that had Sri Lanka score a record 952 for 6
A 20-year old Mahela Jayawardene made an auspicious start to his Test career with a half-century against India in Colombo in August 1997, in a game that had Sri Lanka score a record 952 for 6•Getty Images
But that was just an appetiser for things to come. He converted his second century into a double in a high-scoring draw against India in Colombo
But that was just an appetiser for things to come. He converted his second century into a double in a high-scoring draw against India in Colombo•Getty Images
Following poor tours of West Indies and Australia, Jayawardene bounced back with a double-century against South Africa in Galle in August 2004
Following poor tours of West Indies and Australia, Jayawardene bounced back with a double-century against South Africa in Galle in August 2004•SENA VIDANAGAMA/AFP
Though he led Sri Lanka to a 2-0 win in Bangladesh, they lost the next series against Pakistan at home
Though he led Sri Lanka to a 2-0 win in Bangladesh, they lost the next series against Pakistan at home•AFP
Buoyed by the success in England, Jayawardene returned to Sri Lanka and set about scoring his Test best. He became the second Sri Lankan to score a triple-century and added a whopping 624 runs with Kumar Sangakkara in the first Test against South Africa - the highest partnership for any wicket
Buoyed by the success in England, Jayawardene returned to Sri Lanka and set about scoring his Test best. He became the second Sri Lankan to score a triple-century and added a whopping 624 runs with Kumar Sangakkara in the first Test against South Africa - the highest partnership for any wicket•Getty Images
Another first for Sri Lanka under his captaincy was a Test win in West Indies. Jayawardene played his part with a century in the 121-run win in Guyana
Another first for Sri Lanka under his captaincy was a Test win in West Indies. Jayawardene played his part with a century in the 121-run win in Guyana•AFP
Two double-centuries followed in the year: 240 v Pakistan in Karachi, and 275 v India in Ahmedabad. However, it was also the year he gave up the Test captaincy ...
Two double-centuries followed in the year: 240 v Pakistan in Karachi, and 275 v India in Ahmedabad. However, it was also the year he gave up the Test captaincy ...•AFP
However, after Sri Lanka lost five of ten Tests under him - including a game to New Zealand at the P Sara Oval, which was their first victory in Sri Lanka in 14 years and helped them come back from 0-1 down to level the series - Jayawardene gave up captaincy for the last time
However, after Sri Lanka lost five of ten Tests under him - including a game to New Zealand at the P Sara Oval, which was their first victory in Sri Lanka in 14 years and helped them come back from 0-1 down to level the series - Jayawardene gave up captaincy for the last time•Associated Press
Another double-hundred, the sixth of his career - and another Man of the Match - soon followed, as he scored 203 not out to lead Sri Lanka to a mammoth 730 for 6 against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Sri Lanka went on to win the Test by an innings and 248 runs
Another double-hundred, the sixth of his career - and another Man of the Match - soon followed, as he scored 203 not out to lead Sri Lanka to a mammoth 730 for 6 against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Sri Lanka went on to win the Test by an innings and 248 runs•AFP
In his next series, he greeted New Zealand similarly - scoring back-to-back half centuries in Colombo before a maiden hundred in Galle
In his next series, he greeted New Zealand similarly - scoring back-to-back half centuries in Colombo before a maiden hundred in Galle•Getty Images
He continued to score heavily at home - including eight fifty-plus scores in 12 innings in 2001 - but a century abroad proved elusive
He continued to score heavily at home - including eight fifty-plus scores in 12 innings in 2001 - but a century abroad proved elusive•Hamish Blair/Getty Images
On his first trip to New Zealand, Jayawardene scored a century which put him on No. 4 in the run-getters' list for the series
On his first trip to New Zealand, Jayawardene scored a century which put him on No. 4 in the run-getters' list for the series•William West/Getty Images
Lord's continued to yield runs for Jayawardene - he scored 61 and 119 in the drawn first Test
Lord's continued to yield runs for Jayawardene - he scored 61 and 119 in the drawn first Test•Getty Images
In December that year, he led Sri Lanka to their first win in New Zealand since 1995. The Test series was drawn 1-1
In December that year, he led Sri Lanka to their first win in New Zealand since 1995. The Test series was drawn 1-1 •Getty Images
He scored a hundred in his 99th Test, one that Sri Lanka were in danger of losing after Mohammad Ashraful scored a century in attempting to chase 522
He scored a hundred in his 99th Test, one that Sri Lanka were in danger of losing after Mohammad Ashraful scored a century in attempting to chase 522•AFP
... handing the reins over to his good friend Kumar Sangakkara, who won his first Test in charge, against Pakistan in Galle
... handing the reins over to his good friend Kumar Sangakkara, who won his first Test in charge, against Pakistan in Galle•Associated Press
Apart from his piles of runs, Jayawardene made big contributions for his team on the field as well. He went into his final Test with 202 catches to his name, second only to Rahul Dravid on the all-time list, and held the record for the most takes off a particular bowler: c Jayawardene b Muralitharan was seen 77 times on Test scorecards around the world
Apart from his piles of runs, Jayawardene made big contributions for his team on the field as well. He went into his final Test with 202 catches to his name, second only to Rahul Dravid on the all-time list, and held the record for the most takes off a particular bowler: c Jayawardene b Muralitharan was seen 77 times on Test scorecards around the world •AFP
Jayawardene announced on July 14, 2014, that he would be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the home summer. Ten days later, he was scoring yet another hundred, this one against South Africa at the SSC in his penultimate series. Soon enough, it was time for his swansong, and Sri Lanka was prepped for the occasion
Jayawardene announced on July 14, 2014, that he would be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the home summer. Ten days later, he was scoring yet another hundred, this one against South Africa at the SSC in his penultimate series. Soon enough, it was time for his swansong, and Sri Lanka was prepped for the occasion•AFP
Jayawardene ticked that off his things-to-do list in style with a brave hundred Lord's; he injured his hip during the innings and had to bat with a runner
Jayawardene ticked that off his things-to-do list in style with a brave hundred Lord's; he injured his hip during the innings and had to bat with a runner•Hamish Blair/Getty Images
An injury to Marvan Atapattu pushed Jayawardene to the helm in February 2006
An injury to Marvan Atapattu pushed Jayawardene to the helm in February 2006•AFP
Though he didn't score much at Trent Bridge, Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to their second win in England in 22 years. The teams shared the series 1-1
Though he didn't score much at Trent Bridge, Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to their second win in England in 22 years. The teams shared the series 1-1•Getty Images
The year 2007 was phenomenal for Jayawardene in Tests. He scored his first hundred in Australia, and ended the year averaging 98.20 from eight Tests with five hundreds and a half-century
The year 2007 was phenomenal for Jayawardene in Tests. He scored his first hundred in Australia, and ended the year averaging 98.20 from eight Tests with five hundreds and a half-century•Getty Images
Jayawardene's 100th Test was in Chittagong, in January 2009. While he could not repeat his personal success from the previous Test, he led Sri Lanka to the series sweep
Jayawardene's 100th Test was in Chittagong, in January 2009. While he could not repeat his personal success from the previous Test, he led Sri Lanka to the series sweep•AFP
Another landmark series for Jayawardene came in March 2012, when he scored 180, 5, 105 and 64 in a two Tests at home against England. The 180, in Galle, was his 30th Test hundred and, significantly, it was the series with which he began a second short stint as captain
Another landmark series for Jayawardene came in March 2012, when he scored 180, 5, 105 and 64 in a two Tests at home against England. The 180, in Galle, was his 30th Test hundred and, significantly, it was the series with which he began a second short stint as captain•AFP
Strangely, Jayawardene did not pick up a Man-of-the-Match award in Test cricket for over four years, from November 2009 to January 2014. The wait ended when he scored 129 against Pakistan in Dubai, helping Sri Lanka take a huge lead that eventually propelled them to a nine-wicket win
Strangely, Jayawardene did not pick up a Man-of-the-Match award in Test cricket for over four years, from November 2009 to January 2014. The wait ended when he scored 129 against Pakistan in Dubai, helping Sri Lanka take a huge lead that eventually propelled them to a nine-wicket win•AFP
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