Sangakkara fastest to 8000 Test runs

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara became the fastest to reach the 8,000-mark in Test cricket, during the Sri Lankan second innings on day three of the third and Test against India in Colombo, on Thursday.

Sangakkara took 152 innings to accomplish this feat -- two less than Sachin Tendulkar.

He reached the milestone in the last over of the third day, becoming the second Sri Lankan after Mahela Jayawardene.

Fastest to 8000-run mark:

Statistics: Rajneesh Gupta

Photographs: Reuters

Sangakkara has done well against all the Test playing nations, but he has been particularly successful against Zimbabwe and Pakistan, against whom he averages 89.33 and 77.29 respectively.

Sangakkara along with Mahela Jayawardene also shares the partnership record of 624 runs for the third wicket against South Africa.

In his illustrious career, he has scored 23 centuries and 33 half-centuries. He also has five double centuries in his kitty.

A look at his Test career.

Performance against each country:

Sangakkara's batting record has got better, ever since he has taken over the captaincy. Though still in his early days of captaincy, he averages 72.70 in his eight Tests, with five centuries and three half-centuries.

As a player, he averages a staggering 54.99 from 80 Tests, which has 18 centuries and 30 half-centuries.

Sangakkara has enjoyed more success at No 3 position, where he has scored the maximum runs in his career, scoring 22 of his 23 centuries at an average of 60.38.

Performance at home and away:

Performance as player and captain:

Performance at different batting positions:

When Sangakkara crossed the 8000-run mark, he joined an elite group, which includes names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Gary Sobers, Viv Richard and Sunil Gavaskar among others.

The 8000-club in Tests: