Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya was a Sri Lankan all-rounder and explosive opening batsman whose pinch-hitting approach helped Sri Lanka win the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

Sanath Teran Jayasuriya was born on 30 June 1969 in Matara, Sri Lanka, and rose from humble rural beginnings, a rarity for Sri Lankan cricketers of his era who had traditionally come almost exclusively from Colombo, guided by his school principal at St. Servatius College. Jayasuriya made his international debut in 1989, and fundamentally revolutionised one-day cricket in 1996, forming an explosive opening partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana that introduced the aggressive, attacking approach to ODI batting that has since become the modern standard. Jayasuriya remains the only player in history to score over 12,000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in One Day International cricket, and scored a monumental 340 against India in 1997, the fourth-highest individual score in Test history at the time. Jayasuriya, nicknamed "Master Blaster," retired from Test cricket in 2007 and limited-overs cricket in 2011, before entering Sri Lankan politics, winning a parliamentary seat representing his native Matara District in 2010 and later serving as chairman of the national selection committee.

Jayasuriya was renowned for his aggressive, attacking approach as an opening batsman, particularly in limited-overs cricket. He possessed a wide array of shots and was especially devastating through the off-side, capable of scoring quickly from the first ball. His unorthodox technique and fearless approach made him one of the pioneers of modern aggressive opening batting.

Jayasuriya revolutionized the role of opening batsmen in limited-overs cricket, proving that aggressive batting from the start could be devastatingly effective. His approach influenced a generation of cricketers and helped establish the template for modern T20 and ODI batting strategies.

• 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup winner
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997
• ICC ODI Player of the Year 2004