An extract from ‘Colin Cowdrey Lecture’
This prose extract from Kumar Sangakkara's Colin Cowdrey Lecture recounts the harrowing experience of the Sri Lankan cricket team during a terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2009. Sangakkara reflects on his previous detachment from the violence in Sri Lanka, contrasting it with the sudden, life-threatening situation he faced on the team bus. The narrative vividly describes the chaos and fear as the team was attacked, highlighting the bravery and resilience of the players. Despite the physical and emotional trauma, the team maintained their composure, embodying the strength and spirit of Sri Lankans. Sangakkara's account emphasizes the courage of those who live with violence daily and the deep connection between cricket and national identity in Sri Lanka. The lecture serves as a tribute to the resilience of his teammates and the Sri Lankan people, underscoring the profound impact of cricket on the nation's psyche.
| Word | Easy Meaning | Translation | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| fortunate | lucky | lucky | for-chuh-nit |
| violence | aggression | using physical force to hurt or damage | vai-uh-luhns |
| detached | separated | not connected or involved | dee-tacht |
| inhabit | live in | live in | in-hab-it |
| imperative | essential | very important | im-per-uh-tiv |
| parallels | similarities | similar things | par-uh-lelz |
| meandering | wandering | wandering | mee-an-der-ing |
| anticipating | expecting | expecting | an-tis-uh-pay-ting |
| complaints | grievances | complaints | kuhm-playnts |
| standstill | halt | stop | stand-stil |
| thuds | bangs | loud bangs | thuhdz |
| unconscious | insensible | not awake | uhn-kon-shuhs |
| clarity | clearness | clearness | klar-i-tee |
| velocity | speed | speed | vuh-los-i-tee |
| paramedics | emergency medical staff | emergency medical workers | par-uh-med-iks |
| courage | bravery | bravery | kur-ij |
| resilience | toughness | ability to recover | ri-zil-yuhns |
| ambassadors | representatives | representatives | am-bas-uh-dorz |
| sincerity | honesty | honesty | sin-ser-i-tee |
| evoke | bring out | bring out | ih-vohk |
Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest wicket-keeper-batters in cricket history. He played for Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2015, scoring over 28,000 international runs. Post-retirement, he has worked as a commentator and served as President of the MCC.
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