Indoo - Vindu

Partnerships are about understanding and backing each other in times of need. It's also about being able to repay the faith placed by other by one mean or another. While there are many other factors that make a partnership tango those two are the pillars.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu are one of the best combinations ever to have graced the cricket fields. While their on field sync and chemistry was never in doubt there were dicey situations off it.

2004 Asia Cup was one such instance. Sri Lanka were doing well after the leadership was awarded to Marvan from Sanath after the World Cup. Sanath was experiencing a run drought. His head was literally on the chopping block. The pressure was on Marvan. However during the important Asia Cup, Marvan left nothing unclear about what his plans were. Sanath was very much integral to the team and the skipper openly backed his matchwinner.

In the last two league games against Bangladesh and India Sanath delivered in style. Nothing up consecutive centuries. Against India he almost single handedly drove Sri Lanka to a win. The senior statesmen had paid by the fait or his skipper and opening partner in style

16 years ago on a day like this Sri Lanka levelled a three Test series in UK. Something that was beyond imaginable when the tour began..here's why and how it happened!!

The English tour in 2006 was the start of a successful phase in Sri Lankan cricket. When the team embarked on the tour to UK,not even the most optimistic soul would have expected that turn around. The much expected return of skipper Atappattu, a vital cog in the Lankan line up was delayed due to injury. In addition Sanath Jayasuriya had been forcefully shown the door prior to the series from the test format. In this backdrop Mahela Jayawardena was handed over the leadership mantle.

Mahela led from the front at Lords orchestrating a Jailbreak from a sure defeat. This was followed by a disappointing loss in the second test and as the series went to the final match at Trent bridge no one gave a chance to Sri Lanka. An unsettled side further unsettled by the backdoor entry of Sanath Jayasuriya, pitted against an English team which had just regained Ashes only an year ago consisting of the likes of Peterson, Strauss, Trescothick and Flintoff stood no chance.

It was attritional test cricket at it's best. Both the teams failed to pass 300 in the first innings and were separated by a mere two runs and it came down to the final innings. The Lankans aided by a fighting half century from Chamara Kapugedera set the English a three hundred plus chase (325). The English got off to a solid start with Strauss and Trescothick putting on a near century stand. With the game seemingly slipping away magician Murali did what he does best, spinning a web around the English claiming 8 wickets for just 70 runs handing over Sri Lanka an unexpected but memorable victory. This would bring a turn around in the form of the Lankans in the months that followed.

Under Mahela's leadership Sri lanka went on to excel in both formats during the period that followed. But for a jubilant Mahela pictured here it was an emotional moment filled with joy and pride resulting from an impressive turn around. He would have least known, It was just a sign of things to follow.

A picture that would be dear to those who grew up watching Sri Lankan cricket in the 2000s. A young Kumar Sangakkara and Dilhara Fernando posing happily at the Jetwing Light House Hotel in Galle in 2001. This was the cover photo from the Sports Star A treat missed badly in the digital era.

Both were in their second year in International cricket. Both had played pivotal roles in beating India in the first test of the three match series back in August 2001.

This was an era where Sri Lanka were flying high under Sanath Jayasuriya. But there was a vaccum. While Chaminda Vaas was skilful serious pace was lacking in the Sri Lankan armoury. When Dilhara made his debut against Pakistan in 2000 and picked up five wickets in Durban in December 2000 versus South Africa hopes were high. He was erratic though. He was the potential star with no consistency. As exciting as he was he was frustrating as well. But having picked up five wickets against the Indians Dilhara's stocks had risen by this point. There was hope that he would bring about winds of change, redefining the Lankan pace attack. While Dilhara didn't go onto fulfill his potential I any format, he certainly wasn't a disappointment. He had his moments and gave us many highs and faded into oblivion post 2011. This youngster would go on to develop one of the most talked about innovations, the split finger slow ball which was effective and caught the cricketing world in awe.

The man on the left had stormed into the set up. Had missed two centuries which would have remained his best even at the end of what would be an illustrious career at Centurion and Kandy. A 98 and 95, in the year that had passed. Agonising it must have been but finally the elusive maiden century had been ticked in that game at Galle. Sangakkar's century had piled on India's agony inflicted by a marauding century by Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya. There was every indication that Sangakkara was destined for greatness. The journey was well and truly up and running at Galle. At that point little would one have thought be would re define greatness the way he did. Who would have thought this youngster would go on to become the president of the MCC breaking all glass ceilings.

It's a picture off the field. But it's amazing to look back and recollect the hopes and feelings that were intertwined with such images more than two decades back.