Just one goal left for Mahela Jayawardene – lifting 2015 World Cup

Former Sri Lanka captain all set to retire from Test cricket.

Mahela Jayawardene has been a mainstay in Sri Lanka's middle order since he made his Test debut against India in 1997. Ishara Kodikara / AFP
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COLOMBO // Star Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene said on Monday he would retire from Test cricket after the series against Pakistan in August, drawing the curtain on a 17-year Test career.

Jayawardene, 37, who has been a stalwart of the batting order since making his debut against India in 1997, said it was not an easy decision but ultimately he felt it was the right time to go.

“It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years,” Jayawardene said in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket.

“But I believe this is the right time [to go].”

Jayawardene is Test cricket’s sixth-highest run scorer, with 11,493 Test runs in his stellar career, which ranks him alongside fellow Sri Lanka stalwart Kumar Sangakkara.

Jayawardene, a member of the Sri Lankan team that last month were surprise 1-0 winners in the Test series against England, has played 145 Tests and averages 50.18 with 33 centuries.

The right-hander retired from Twenty20 internationals in April but will be available for one-day international cricket.

Chief cricket selector and former teammate Sanath Jayasuriya said Jayawardene wanted to concentrate on training for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“He wants to give up Test cricket so that he can concentrate on one-day matches. He wants to be fully prepared for the next World Cup,” Jayasuriya said. “We respect his decision.”

Jayawardene is expected to play in the series against Pakistan at home starting on August 14 and has been in fine form in Tests having scored an unbeaten double-century – his seventh score above 200 – against Bangladesh in the first Test in Dhaka in January.

Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lanka captain, discussed Jayawardene’s retirement plans with Sri Lanka’s cricket board before it released the retirement letter on Monday.

“By stepping down from the Test squad he is also making way for a younger player to come in. We thank him for all he has done for cricket in the country,” Jayasuriya said.

Jayawardene is expected to receive a standing ovation when he takes to the ground in the southern city of Galle tomorrow for the first of two Test matches against South Africa. The second Test starts at Colombo on July 24.

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