Angelo Mathews Bids Farewell to Test Cricket in Galle Against Bangladesh

Angelo Mathews Reflects on His Final Test Match

New Delhi [India], June 16: As he prepares for his last Test match against Bangladesh starting Tuesday, former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews shared his thoughts on his farewell game in Galle.

On May 23, Mathews announced that the upcoming Test against Bangladesh would mark his final appearance in red-ball cricket for Sri Lanka.

In 2025, Sri Lanka is set to play only four Test matches, the fewest in a calendar year since 2013.

“I made my 100th Test appearance in Galle, so it felt fitting to say goodbye there. The main reason is that we don’t have any upcoming matches for a while. Our next Test assignment won’t be until a year from now, which is quite a long wait,” Mathews stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

He also expressed his desire to allow the player who will take his place in the second Test a chance to play, given the limited opportunities until the following year.

“I thought it would be good to give whoever is replacing me in the second Test a chance, as he won’t have another opportunity until next year (laughs). In that time, anything can happen. So, I decided to play one last game and give the other guy a shot,” Mathews added.

Since making his Test debut against Pakistan in 2009, Mathews has been a vital part of Sri Lankan cricket for over 15 years, showcasing his skills as both an all-rounder and a leader.

With a total of 8,167 runs in 118 matches, he ranks third among Sri Lankans for most Test runs, trailing only Kumar Sangakkara (12,400) and Mahela Jayawardena (11,814). He has also contributed with the ball, taking 33 wickets.