( CNN ) -- Growing up in a small Sri Lankan fishing town , cricket changed Sanath Jayasuriya 's life . But his association with the game and humanitarian work has also helped transform the lives of many others . Jayasuriya 's stature and shot-making led to comparisons with India 's Sachin Tendulkar . `` Without cricket I would have a small job in my home town . My mother is happy to say my name , '' he told CNN in Hong Kong . His mother 's pride in his success has an extra poignancy as Jayasuriya 's fame in some part helped his mother survive the south Asian tsunami on December 26 , 2004 . She was swept away by the first wave and only by calling out to get attention , saying she was Jayasuriya 's mother , did a rescuer manage to spot her among the debris and destruction and pull her to safety . Thousands of others , including many of Jayasuriya 's friends and neighbors , were not so fortunate , and the impact that the disaster had on Jayasuriya 's hometown of Matara and many other parts of Sri Lanka is still felt today . `` Even now when many people hear the word ( tsunami ) , they are still scared . When my mother hears it , she still ca n't run , '' he said . After nearly 20 years of international cricket , the 39-year-old is now just as happy to put bowling attacks to the sword as well as working as a UN Goodwill Ambassador . `` Coming from Sri Lanka you need to do a lot of charity work and help in anyway you can . People love cricket and they look to cricketers , so as a team Sri Lanka also does a lot for charity . It 's a personal commitment , '' he told CNN . On the pitch he has always been just as committed to helping his team . Making his international Test match debut in 1991 , he captained the Sri Lankan team for four years until 2003 and hit memorable centuries against every other Test side , bar the West Indies and New Zealand . He retired from the five-day version of the game in 2007 . However it was in the one day game that the all-rounder has really made his mark . As part of the Sri Lankan team that won the World Cup in 1996 , he played an explosive innings of aggressive shot-making that has been credited with revolutionizing the way in which batsman play the game . In 2005 he became only the fourth batsman to reach 10,000 runs in one-day matches and his current stats stand at 12785 runs from 421 one-day internationals . Having made his name in the 50-over version of the game he 's still involved in cricket 's latest revolution ; the even shorter Twenty20 game that is being touted as the future of popularizing the sport . `` Cricket has changed all over the world . For the public to watch this game we need for it to change . You can now enjoy all that in around 3 hours ( with Twenty20 ) . The Indian Premier League ( IPL ) is good for cricket and good for cricketers . The one-day game will be phased down . '' Throughout his career he 's shown his own resilience adapting to changing circumstances on the cricket pitch as well as off it . Before the 2003 World Cup he took the decision not to sign a contract with the Sri Lankan cricket board , citing the loss of potential earnings it would mean for him and fellow players . Despite not being a confrontational personality , the tension between himself and the Sri Lankan cricket board led to his resignation from the captaincy in 2003 . With no Test cricket to play this year , Jayasuriya found himself omitted from the Sri Lanka squad for 2008 series one-day series against the West Indies . However his fine form while playing in the IPL -- he ended its inaugural season as the third highest run scorer with 514 runs and hitting 31 sixes -- convinced the selectors to pick him for the upcoming one-day series between Sri Lanka , Bangladesh and Zimbabwe . `` Looking back I could never have thought I would have come this far . Buddhism helped me a lot . It says that you should take the middle path and you will never go wrong , '' he said . `` But I 've done a lot of hard work and everyone , my family and coaches , have given me support . Without that I would n't have got here . '' When he does finally retire you can expect Jayasuriya to keep giving all he can to the game and causes he loves so much .
Sri Lankan cricketer recognized as changing the way one - day cricket is played . The first cricketer to be a U.N . Goodwill Ambassador . Sri Lanka 's highest run scorer in Test cricket and one - day internationals .