Angelo Mathews Announces Retirement from Test Cricket, Eyes White-Ball Future

Angelo Mathews Bids Farewell to Test Cricket

Angelo Mathews, the prominent Sri Lankan cricketer, has announced his decision to retire from Test cricket. He will play his final Test match against Bangladesh in Galle this June. In a heartfelt statement, Mathews expressed that it is time for younger talents to emerge, while he will continue to be available for selection in white-ball formats. Over his Test career, Mathews participated in 118 matches, accumulating 8,167 runs with an impressive average of 44.62, including 16 centuries and 45 half-centuries.

Final Test Scheduled for June

Mathews confirmed that the upcoming Test against Bangladesh will mark his last appearance in the red-ball format for Sri Lanka. Although he is stepping away from Tests, he will remain a contender for the white-ball team. During his captaincy, he took 33 wickets across 34 matches, leading Sri Lanka to 13 victories, which ranks him third in terms of wins for the country, following legends Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene, who each secured 18 wins.

Sri Lanka's Challenges in Test Cricket

With the arrival of Australia and South Africa for the World Test Championship 2023-25, Sri Lanka concluded the cycle without any wins. They are eager to start the new cycle on a positive note, especially as Mathews prepares for his final matches. This year has seen significant farewells for Sri Lankan cricket, with Dimuth Karunaratne also retiring after his 100th Test against Australia in February.