Kumar Sangakkara continues colossal run

Kumar Sangakkara continues to pile on the runs and is only getting better with age.

The word insatiable is defined as a desire that is impossible to satisfy. In cricketing parlance, the word is associated with batsmen who amass runs. Sir Donald Bradman defined the word in the 20th century. It was carried forward by the likes of Geoffrey Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara.
Ever since he surfaced on to the international stage at the start of the 21st century, Kumar Sangakkara has defined consistency accumulating runs and records. His fantastic 203 against New Zealand in the ongoing second Test in Wellington, where Sri Lanka were 78 for five and trailing by 143 runs, is a continuation of the golden run that he has sustained. By becoming the fastest to the 12000-run mark in Tests, he is ticking all the right boxes.
Sangakkara's record in 2014 put him on a pedestal in keeping with his consistency since 2010. The following table reflects that.

YEAR	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	FIFTIES	CENTURIES
2010	6	9	695	99.28	2	3
2011	11	21	1034	49.23	4	4
2012	10	19	767	51.13	3	2
2013	3	6	512	85.33	2	3
2014	11	21	1438	71.9	8	4

In the second Test against New Zealand, Sangakkara became the fastest to get to 12000 runs, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis behind. He made the occasion better by notching up his 11th double ton, one behind Sir Donald Bradman's mark. These two tables the list the batsmen to go past 12000 and the batsmen who have accumulated the most double centuries.

NAME	MATCHES	INNINGS	YEAR	OPPONENTS	VENUE
KUMAR SANGAKKARA	130	224	2015	NEW ZEALAND	WELLINGTON
SACHIN TENDULKAR	152	247	2008	AUSTRALIA	MOHALI
RICKY PONTING	146	247	2010	PAKISTAN	LEEDS
JACQUES KALLIS	147	249	2011	AUSTRALIA	JOHANNESBURG
RAHUL DRAVID	148	255	2010	SOUTH AFRICA	CENTURION

Most double tons in Test history

NAME	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	DOUBLE TONS
SIR DON BRADMAN	52	80	6996	99.94	12
KUMAR SANGAKKARA	130	224	12198	58.92	11
BRIAN LARA	131	232	11953	52.88	9
WALLY HAMMOND	85	140	7249	58.45	7
MAHELA JAYAWARDENE	149	252	11814	49.84	7

The number of innings in which he has reached the landmark is amazing. He is 23 innings clear of Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. The number of double hundreds outlines an outstanding feature of Sangakkara's career. Of his 38 Test centuries, 19 are 150-plus. There are 10 double tons and a triple hundred to go along with eight scores in between 150 and 199. Sangakkara has also been dismissed in the 190s twice and was unbeaten on 199 against Pakistan in Galle.
A true judgment of a batsmen's allround skill is the amount of runs that he scores overseas. This table highlights Sri Lanka's most successful batsmen overseas in the last five years.

NAME	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	FIFTIES	CENTURIES
KUMAR SANGAKKARA	12	23	1068	48.54	5	4
TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN	8	15	607	40.46	2	2
ANGELO MATHEWS	10	20	752	37.6	4	2
THILAN SAMARAWEERA	9	18	620	41.33	2	2
DINESH CHANDIMAL	6	11	420	38.18	4	0
MAHELA JAYAWARDENE	11	22	575	26.13	3	0

* This table excludes the matches Sri Lanka played against Bangladesh in this period. The period is taken from Jan 1, 2010 till the end of the second day's play in Wellington.
Kumar Sangakkara scored 499 runs in the series against Bangladesh in 2014, including 424 in one match. His 319 and 105 made him the top run-getter by a fair distance among the Sri Lankan batsmen in this period. However, even if we take out the numbers against Bangladesh, Sangakkara is still the leader of the pack.
Perhaps the most damning is Mahela Jayawardena's numbers overseas. If one includes his contributions against Bangladesh, he averages 35 but that drops to 26 when matches against Bangladesh are left out of the equation.
If one looks at overseas performances of all batsmen in the world, Sangakkara shines bright. This table outlines Sangakkara's contribution vis--vis other batsmen.

NAME	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	FIFTIES	CENTURIES
VIRAT KOHLI	19	37	1495	41.52	4	6
MICHAEL CLARKE	19	37	1456	44.12	4	5
ALASTAIR COOK	15	28	1344	51.69	4	5
MURALI VIJAY	15	30	1072	35.73	6	2
KUMAR SANGAKKARA	12	23	1068	48.54	5	4
DAVID WARNER	13	26	1047	40.26	6	3

* This table excludes of runs scored against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The minimum criteria is 1000 runs. The period is taken from Jan 1, 2011 till January 4, 2015, the end of the second day's play in Wellington.
Sangakkara has scored against top sides during this period. This can be interpreted in two ways. One: Sangakkara is only a minnow-killer. Two: He just scores heavily against toothless attacks. The contributions against Bangladesh are proof. Take those numbers out of the equation and Sangakkara still comes out the best. The likes of Virat Kohli, Michael Clarke, Alastair Cook, Murali Vijay and David Warner have all got runs in tough conditions. A closer look at the averages reveal that Sangakkara's is the second best in the table behind Cook.
For the moment, no attack appears to be able to stop Sangakkara. He is showing no signs of slowing down in the near future, despite having spoken of quitting. Sri Lanka persuaded him and the onus is on him to carry forward a batting line-up that is already missing Jayawardena's solid presence. Sangakkara can break many Test records if he defies age and maintains form.