Hope to have more fruitful years: Sanga

Hyderabad, April 12: Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara on Thursday expressed happiness at being named Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world and one of its five cricketers of the year.

“It’s a great honour. Very humbled and privileged. I have had a good year in 2011. Hopefully, I will have a couple of more fruitful years before I finish,” said Sangakkara, the captain of the IPL franchise Deccan Chargers.

Sangakkara said that Australian cricketer Ian Healy’s advice on wicketkeeping helped him a lot.

“When I started, I wasn’t a natural wicketkeeper but it was a case of making sure that you went and spoke to the right people.

“I have been to a few wicketkeeping coaches. Sometimes, they confused me more than actually teaching me something,” he said. “The real change came when I met Ian Healy. He simplified wicketkeeping to such an extent that I was able to really understand it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sangakkara along with his Deccan Chargers’ team- mates and

I have been to a few wicketkeeping coaches. Sometimes, they confused me more than actually teaching me something.

coach Darren Lehmann offered cricket tips to a group of children at an event in Hyderabad.

“I never played cricket when I was at this age. This is all a new experience for me. When I started playing cricket, I was about 12 or a bit older. I never had this kind of experience when I was six or seven. But this is great, the kids starting out this early,” said Sangakkara.

“They should not restrain themselves, but play their natural game. They must enjoy it. It is because of that enjoyment that they will want to take it further and learn the techniques.”