Wisden overview
Within months of breaking into the side at 22, Kumar Sangakkara became one of Sri Lanka's most influential players, a highly talented left-handed strokemaker and wicketkeeper, who has taken the imprecations of his coach, Dav Whatmore, to make the most of his high self-esteem to heart - as England discovered during their 2000-01 tour, when he was reprimanded and fined for various misdemeanours. He was brought into the side six months earlier to take the place of the retired Arjuna Ranatunga and immediately emerged as the star of the Singer Series against South Africa and Pakistan. His ability with the bat was bad news for Romesh Kaluwitharana, who lost his place in the squad for the World Cup. Sangakkara is training to be a lawyer. Simon Wilde

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