Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews retires from Test cricket

Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews, 37, announced on social media that he will retire from Test cricket in June.

 

 

 

 

 

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In his statement on social media, Mathews said that playing cricket for Sri Lanka for the last 17 years has been the greatest honour and pride for him. I gave everything to cricket, and cricket gave everything to me in return, and whatever I am today, it is because of cricket.

He stated, ‘I am taking a break from the Test format. As discussed with the selectors, I will be available for limited-overs formats if my country needs me’.

Mathews, who debuted in 2009, will play his final Test match against Bangladesh in Galle on June 17.

However, he will remain available for Sri Lanka's ODI and T20 teams, although he has not played a limited-overs international match since last June.

It is pertinent to note that Mathews will retire as the third-highest run-scorer in Sri Lankan Test cricket.

The right-handed batsman has scored 8,167 runs in 118 matches at an average of 44.62. Only Kumar Sangakkara (12,400 runs) and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814 runs) are ahead of him.

As a bowler, Mathews also took 33 wickets in Test cricket.

Mathews led the Sri Lankan team in 34 Test matches between 2013 and 2017.