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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Henry L" data-source="post: 17030170" data-attributes="member: 260809">He has been a world-class cricketer, admired the world over, mixing with presidents, meeting with royalty, and carousing with the wealthy and well-known. But to the people who have loved him at home he has never seemed like an A-lister. Almost 20 years after became a celebrity, Jayawardene has remained, unmistakeably, a man of the people.Perhaps he has enjoyed those interactions most of all. He has posed for tens of thousands of pictures, signed countless caps, bats, notebooks and photographs. Yet instead of being ground down by the hubbub, Jayawardene has been buoyed by the public's love and admiration. He never fails to respond when a fan quips with him, rarely forgets to flash that wide smile when someone shakes his hand.On a charity walk last year, a boy of no more than nine had waited for Jayawardene to come past since 5 am, so Jayawardene met him warmly and walked with him for as long as the youngster could come. He has always had that magic about him: that air of approachability and an easy, affectionate way. In a northern town last October, a group of squirming kids milled around metres away, a little too shy to approach. So he went to them instead, dropping to his haunches to flash that grin, eye-to-eye.</blockquote>

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