- Speaker
- Kumar Sangakkara, former Sri Lankan cricket captain
- Text type
- Extract from a speech: the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture
- Delivered
- 4 July 2011, at Lord's, London
- Subject
- The terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, Pakistan
- Key idea
- Courage, calm and pride in being Sri Lankan in the face of violence
About the speaker
Kumar Sangakkara is one of Sri Lanka's greatest cricketers and a former captain of the national team. Off the field he is known as an articulate, thoughtful speaker.
In July 2011 he delivered the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's in London, often called the "home of cricket". The 2016 marking scheme notes that he was the first Sri Lankan invited to give this lecture. The original LitHelp notes call it "a moment of enormous pride for Sri Lanka", coming at a time when the country's international image was being damaged by groups with a political agenda.
Background
The Cowdrey Lecture is a talk about the "spirit of cricket": fair play, respect and the values of the game. Sangakkara used it to speak about Sri Lanka's history and culture, the place of cricket in Sri Lankan life, and the opportunities for a country freed from the clutches of terrorism.
The prescribed extract comes from the part of the lecture where he describes the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. The team was in Pakistan on a cricket tour when gunmen attacked the bus on its way to the stadium. Several players were injured, and Pakistani security personnel were among those killed.
This is a non-fiction text: a real speech about a real event. When you write about it, refer to "the speaker" or "Sangakkara", and treat his feelings and judgements as his own reflections on his experience.
Setting
- Lahore, Pakistan: the team bus, during the attack.
- The dressing room: where the players gather after escaping.
- A security checkpoint: where Sangakkara meets a soldier on duty, who speaks the words of the 2016 exam extract.
- Lord's, London: where Sangakkara tells the story to an international audience, two years later.
Summary
- Sri Lanka and cricketSangakkara introduces his country's heritage: close-knit families, strong communities and a very hospitable culture. Cricket first brought together affluent Sri Lankans of all races, castes and religions, and once it opened to the masses it won a place in every Sri Lankan heart.
- No experience of warHe admits that, although Sri Lanka had suffered terrorism, he himself had never experienced it directly. He felt sympathy, but "had no real experience with which I could draw parallels."
- The attackOn the bus, they hear what sound like fire crackers, then a shout: "Get down they are shooting at the bus." A teammate on his debut tour is hit in the chest.
- Calm under fireThere is "no insane panic", only "absolute clarity and awareness" of what is happening.
- SurvivalIn the dressing room the players talk, and soon there is laughter and jokes. "We had survived."
- Defiance and prideThey were shot at and injured, "and yet we were not cowed … 'We are Sri Lankan.'" They behave as "unofficial ambassadors" of their country.
- The soldierA soldier tells him it is all right if he dies, because it is his job, but that Sangakkara is a hero whose death would be a great loss to the country. Sangakkara feels humbled.
- HopeHe believes cricket can help Sri Lankans overcome the brutality of war and become a peaceful, proud nation.
Section-by-section analysis
1. Before the attack
HonestyThis was an experience that I could not relate to. I had great sympathy and compassion for them, but had no real experience with which I could draw parallels.
Sangakkara begins honestly: before Lahore, war and terrorism were things he had only heard about. This humble admission makes his later account more powerful. The 2016 marking scheme notes that the attack let the players "draw parallels" with, and see the courage and selflessness of, ordinary Sri Lankans who had faced violence before them.
2. The attack
Sudden dangerNot thirty seconds had passed when we heard what sounded like fire crackers going off. Suddenly a shout came from the front: "Get down they are shooting at the bus."
The account is vivid and dramatic. The ordinary image of "fire crackers" creates irony: at first the sound seems harmless, even festive. The time phrase "Not thirty seconds" and the word "Suddenly" create speed and shock. The direct speech puts the listener inside the bus.
Present tenseTharanga Paranvithana, on his debut tour, is also next to me. He stands up, bullets flying all around him, shouting "I have been hit" as he holds his blood-soaked chest.
Here Sangakkara switches to the present tense ("is", "stands", "holds"), which makes the moment feel as if it is happening now and creates a sense of immediacy and high drama. "Bullets flying all around him" and "blood-soaked chest" are strong visual images. Mentioning that it was the young player's debut tour adds pathos.
3. Calm under fire
Self-controlThere was no insane panic. There was absolute clarity and awareness of what was happening at that moment.
The parallel structure ("There was no … There was …") contrasts the panic we might expect with the calm clarity the players showed. The original LitHelp notes link this to sportsmanship: the ability to face emergencies that the players learned through cricket.
4. Survival and humour
ReliefWe all sit in the dressing room and talk. Talk about what happened. Within minutes there is laughter and the jokes have started to flow. We have for the first time been a target of violence. We had survived.
The repetition of "talk" and the short sentences slow the pace after the tension of the attack. Laughter shows the team's resilience and the healing power of friendship. The final short sentence, "We had survived", stands out with quiet relief.
5. Defiance and pride
PatriotismWe were shot at, grenades were thrown at us, we were injured and yet we were not cowed. We were not down and out. "We are Sri Lankan,"
This is the emotional high point. The list of dangers ("shot at … grenades … injured") builds up through accumulation, then turns with "and yet" to the team's courage. The repetition of "We were" and the inclusive pronoun "we" show unity. "We are Sri Lankan" sums up his pride in his national identity.
ResponsibilityOur emotions held true to our role as unofficial ambassadors.
Even after the attack, the players remember that they represent their country. The original notes see this as a sign of good leadership: tactfulness, patience and a sense of responsibility.
6. The soldier
The 2016 exam extract"It is ok if I die because it is my job and I am ready for it. But you are a hero and if you were to die it would be a great loss for the country."
A soldier on duty at a checkpoint speaks these words to Sangakkara. The soldier feels respect and admiration for the cricketer, and is willing to put his own life below Sangakkara's.
HumilityHow can this man value his life less than mine? His sincerity was overwhelming. I felt humbled.
The rhetorical question shows Sangakkara's shock and humility. He believes the soldier's life is just as valuable. The original notes call humbleness "the greatest quality of a leader". The scheme highlights the empathy, self-respect and humble human nature of Sri Lankans shown in this encounter.
7. Hope for the future
Sangakkara ends by expressing his belief that cricket has helped Sri Lankans overcome the brutality of war, torture and persecution, and that his people can become a peaceful and proud nation, "healing itself from within", and take their place on the world stage with confidence and courage.
Themes
- Pride in country and culture"We are Sri Lankan." The speech celebrates Sri Lanka's heritage, hospitality and resilience.
- Courage and calm under pressure"No insane panic … absolute clarity": the team faces terror with self-control.
- The spirit of cricketCricket unites Sri Lankans across race, caste and religion, and its values helped the players respond with dignity.
- Humility and respectThe soldier's sacrifice humbles the famous cricketer and shows the selflessness of ordinary Sri Lankans.
- The reality of terrorismThe speech makes listeners experience terrorism's real nature through one vivid personal account.
- Healing and hopeA nation recovering from war can heal itself from within and face the world with confidence.
Literary techniques
| Technique | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| First-person narrative | "I had great sympathy …"; "we heard …" | Personal, sincere and believable |
| Present tense | "He stands up, bullets flying all around him" | Immediacy: the attack feels as if it is happening now |
| Direct speech | "Get down they are shooting at the bus." | Drama and realism |
| Vivid imagery | "blood-soaked chest" | Shocking, memorable pictures of violence |
| Irony | Gunfire first heard as "fire crackers" | Highlights the suddenness of the attack |
| Parallel structure / repetition | "There was no … There was …"; "We were … We were not …" | Emphasis, rhythm and unity |
| Accumulation | "shot at, grenades were thrown at us, we were injured" | Builds up the danger before the turn "and yet" |
| Inclusive pronoun | "we", "our" | Team spirit and national solidarity |
| Rhetorical question | "How can this man value his life less than mine?" | Shows humility and makes listeners reflect |
| Short sentences | "We had survived." "I felt humbled." | Emotional emphasis after long, tense passages |
Tone
The tone moves from honest and modest, through tense and dramatic during the attack, to proud, defiant, humble and finally hopeful. Throughout, the speaker is calm, dignified and sincere, with touches of good humour, qualities the marking scheme says "magnetised" his audience.
Context questions (Part I, Section A)
Each extract carries 5 marks: (a) text and author, 1; (b) speaker, person spoken to, or situation, 2; (c) inference or response, 2.
"It is ok if I die because it is my job and I am ready for it. But you are a hero and if you were to die it would be a great loss for the country."
- From which text is this extract taken? Who wrote it? 1
- Who speaks these words? To whom are they spoken? 2
- What is the speaker's feeling towards the person he speaks to? 2
Show answers (based on the 2016 marking scheme)
(a) "The Lahore Attack" (an extract from the Cowdrey Lecture) by Kumar Sangakkara.
(b) The soldier on duty at the checkpoint speaks these words to Kumar Sangakkara.
(c) Respect, admiration, high regard and affection. The soldier sees Sangakkara as a national hero and values his life above his own.
"Not thirty seconds had passed when we heard what sounded like fire crackers going off. Suddenly a shout came from the front: 'Get down they are shooting at the bus.'"
- From which text is this extract taken? Who is the speaker? 1
- Describe the situation. 2
- What is ironic about the phrase "what sounded like fire crackers"? 2
Show model answer
(a) "The Lahore Attack" by Kumar Sangakkara.
(b) The Sri Lankan cricket team is travelling in its bus in Lahore, Pakistan, when terrorists open fire on it.
(c) Fire crackers are associated with celebration and fun, but the sound is actually gunfire. The ironic contrast shows how sudden and unexpected the attack was.
"We were shot at, grenades were thrown at us, we were injured and yet we were not cowed. We were not down and out."
- Name the text and the speaker. 1
- Who does "we" refer to? 2
- Identify one technique used here and explain its effect. 2
Show model answer
(a) "The Lahore Attack" by Kumar Sangakkara.
(b) "We" refers to the members of the Sri Lankan cricket team who were attacked in Lahore, including the speaker.
(c) Accumulation or listing ("shot at, grenades were thrown at us, we were injured") builds up the danger, and "and yet" turns it into a statement of courage. Repetition of "We were" emphasises the team's unity and defiance. Either answer is acceptable.
"How can this man value his life less than mine? His sincerity was overwhelming. I felt humbled."
- From which text is this extract taken? Who wrote it? 1
- Who is "this man"? What has he just said? 2
- What quality of the speaker is revealed here? 2
Show model answer
(a) "The Lahore Attack" by Kumar Sangakkara.
(b) "This man" is a soldier on duty at a checkpoint. He has told Sangakkara that it is all right if he himself dies, because it is his job, but that Sangakkara's death would be a great loss to the country.
(c) Humility. Sangakkara does not accept that his life is worth more than the soldier's; he is moved and humbled by the soldier's sincerity.
Essay questions (Part II, Prose)
Content 7 · Organisation 4 · Language 4.
"The Lahore Attack depicts the speaker's pride and admiration for his own culture and country." Discuss. 15
Points the 2016 marking scheme looks for
- A brief introduction: a speech by Kumar Sangakkara, former Sri Lankan captain; the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture; the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team; the first Sri Lankan invited to give the lecture; he held the audience through sincerity, dignity, patriotism, skilful language and good humour.
- The text is the speaker's reflection on his experience of an attack faced as a cricketer.
- He shows how the team could draw parallels with, and see the courage and selflessness of, Sri Lankans who had faced similar situations.
- His language reflects love of country and pride in cricket: "We were not down and out. We are Sri Lankans".
- His identification with cricket as a Sri Lankan: "We were calm, collected, rational. Our emotions held true to our role as unofficial ambassadors".
- The encounter with the soldier on duty reveals the empathy, self-respect, humbleness and human nature of Sri Lankans.
- Cricket is part of Sri Lankan culture; cricketers are respected and admired.
Show model answer
In July 2011, former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara delivered the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's, the first Sri Lankan invited to do so. In the section known as "The Lahore Attack", he recalls the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Pakistan. Although the event was terrifying, his account is filled with pride in, and admiration for, his country and its culture.
His pride is clear from the way he introduces Sri Lanka: a country of close-knit families, strong communities and an exceptionally hospitable culture, where cricket brings together people of all races, castes and religions. He presents cricket not just as a sport but as part of Sri Lankan identity.
The attack itself becomes a test of that identity. Sangakkara describes the gunfire, which at first sounded "like fire crackers", and the shout, "Get down they are shooting at the bus." A young teammate on his debut tour is hit. Yet Sangakkara stresses that "There was no insane panic." Afterwards, in the dressing room, "there is laughter and the jokes have started to flow." He is proud of the team's calm and resilience, which he sees as typically Sri Lankan.
That pride becomes openly patriotic in the lines "we were not cowed. We were not down and out. 'We are Sri Lankan.'" The repeated "we" unites the players with the whole nation. He also says, "Our emotions held true to our role as unofficial ambassadors", showing that even at a moment of danger the team remembered that they represented Sri Lanka.
His admiration for ordinary Sri Lankans is strongest in his meeting with the soldier, who tells him: "It is ok if I die because it is my job … But you are a hero." Sangakkara asks, "How can this man value his life less than mine?" and says, "I felt humbled." The soldier's selflessness, and Sangakkara's humility in response, show the empathy and human nature he admires in his people. The experience also helped him understand the courage of Sri Lankans who had lived through violence for years.
Finally, he expresses his belief that his country can heal itself from within and take its place on the world stage with confidence and courage. Through vivid storytelling, inclusive language and sincere emotion, "The Lahore Attack" shows Sangakkara's deep pride in Sri Lanka and his admiration for its culture and its people.
"The Lahore Attack reveals the qualities of a true leader." Discuss with reference to the speech. 15
Show answer plan
- Introduction: Sangakkara as former captain; the speech reveals his leadership as much as the event.
- Honesty and modesty: he admits he "had no real experience" of war.
- Calm under pressure: "no insane panic … absolute clarity".
- Team spirit: the dressing-room talk and laughter; the inclusive "we".
- Responsibility: "our role as unofficial ambassadors".
- Humility: the soldier; "I felt humbled."
- Vision: hope for a peaceful, proud nation.
- Conclusion: courage, humility and responsibility make him a leader, on and off the field.
- Calling the text a story or the speaker a character. It is a real speech about a real event.
- Describing the attack in detail but forgetting the speaker's feelings and values: pride, calm, humility.
- Misidentifying the speaker of the 2016 extract. It is the soldier, speaking to Sangakkara.
- Ignoring language. Mention techniques such as the present tense, direct speech, repetition and the rhetorical question.