Angelo Mathews’ 100th Test: Milestone in a glittering career
Can Angelo Mathews make it a memorable 100? - Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP
Sri Lanka’s recent run in Test cricket has been somewhat decent, with two series wins – against West Indies and Bangladesh, a 0-2 loss to India and an exciting 1-1 series tie against Australia earlier this month. Against Australia, Sri Lanka lost the first game by 10 wickets but bounced back with an inning and 39-run win in the second game.
Against Pakistan too, the first match a total giveaway, while today’s second and final Test could end up with a possible outcome. It all took place, and is taking place at the Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka’s most picturesque venue placed right below the UNECSO world heritage site, the historic and legendary Galle Fort.
Historic will be today’s 57th meeting in Tests between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in particular to one cricketer, former skipper and currently the most senior and experienced batsman of the side, Angelo Davis Mathews. The 35-year-old will play his 100th Test match, the only sixth Sri Lankan cricketer to make his centenary appearance next to Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya.
All these cricketers have earned legendary status, and now Mathews enters the list with a career that had mostly ups and the rare downs. For a batsman who had appeared in 99 Tests so far, Mathews has raked up 6876 runs, with the highest of an unbeaten 200, and an impressive average of 45.23, where he stands fourth overall among Sri Lankan Tests batters. The best among the lot is Sangakkara, who averages 57.40, then Jayawardena, at 49.84 and Tilan Samaraweera, now a member of the Australia coaching unit, at 48.76, ahead of Mathews.
Today Mathews will become the 73rd cricketer in the world to reach the milestone of 100 Tests, with the latest being former Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who played his centenary game in March, earlier this year. But the real deal for Mathews will be making his 100th Test game a memorable one, for him as well as for his team. Coincidently he made his debut against the same opponent at the same venue in 2009.
“It’s an honour and privilege to have represented Sri Lanka in 100 Test matches, I believe I’m the sixth from Sri Lanka to play 100 games, which sums up the rarity of this feat. I do believe that my best is yet to come and I’m happy to strike form when the team really needs my services,” the former St. Joseph’s College skipper said.
Mathews was the first from St. Joseph’s to reach the national level after many years, following the legendary paceman Chaminda Vaas, His entry to the national team only followed suite for many other Josephians, including Thisara Perera, one half of the famous ‘Josephian Mafia’ as described by cricket experts, Roshen Silva, present Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and the latest star Dunith Wellalage.
“As a former Josephian, I’m really proud of what I was able to achieve during my career. All credit should go to all the rectors, coaches, mentors, my family and all the Josephian cricketers, who believed in me. The trend will only continue, hopefully,” Mathews added.
Since making his Test debut, Mathews has played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s transformation, at times playing among the other senior lot, and then leading the side, before playing as the side’s most senior player to become an inspiration to many youngsters in the national setup. At 25, he became Sri Lanka’s youngest Test captain. His continued form since earlier this year, where he struck 199 and 145 against Bangladesh, followed by useful knocks of 39 and 52 against Australia, will make Mathews the most relied batter for the upcoming Test matches, mainly today’s second and final match against Pakistan. His figures of 0 and 9 may not come in as impressive as he would have thought to contribute to his team, yet the team depends on his batting heroics, according to skipper Karunaratne.
“It’s a special occasion to all of us, the boys want to give him a good game. Hopefully we will have a memorable one. We always play to win. Like for Angelo (Mathews), even for us it’s a great occasion. It’s not an easy thing to play 100 Test matches. When we win, there’s a lot of joy and that’s what we want to do in today’s game,” Karunaratne told reporters.
Despite losing the first game by 4 wickets, all is not done according to Karunaratne, who hinted that the young and aspiring allrounder Dunith Wellalage, another Josephian, could make it into the team. Former Nalanda College allrounder Lakshitha Manasinghe has a higher chance in playing today’s game as well. These inclusions come as replacement to Maheesh Theekshana, with fast bowler Asitha Fernando likely to come into an otherwise unchanged side. But the main concern for Sri Lanka would be piling up runs, especially in the first innings, if they are to stick to a winning plan.
Opener Pathum Nissanka, who was taken out from the squad due to Covid-19, has recovered and will make it into the squad. His replacement, Oshada Fernando striking form with scores of 35 and 64, however, makes Nissanka’s chances in coming into the playing XI, quite impossible. Pakistan has lost Shaheen Shah Afridi due to an injury, and may stick to an unchanged team as from the first game.
Yet all eyes would be on Angelo Mathews, from whom a memorable century is anticipated. However, for Mathews, despite reaching a milestone, it’s another day in office with much depending from his bat.
“I will continue to play my usual game, a hundred in the 100th Test match would be something any batsman would like to get. But I’m really open and will try my best. I will continue to play for Sri Lanka as long as I could in all three formats, until my team needs my service. It feels great to be a part of this unit,” stressed Mathews.
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