Sports Desk:

Sri Lankan cricket stalwart Angelo Mathews has announced his retirement from Test cricket, with the opening Test against Bangladesh in Galle on 17 June set to be his final red-ball appearance. The veteran allrounder announced this via a social media post on Friday. While stepping away from the longest format, the 37-year-old confirmed his availability for white-ball cricket “if and when my country needs me.”

Mathews, who debuted in 2009, will end his Test career with 119 caps, 8167 runs at an average of 44.62, and 16 centuries—making him the third-highest run-scorer in Sri Lanka’s Test history behind legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. He also contributed with the ball, taking 33 wickets with his handy medium pace.

A pivotal figure in Sri Lanka’s Test resurgence during the 2010s, Mathews’ leadership shone in matches like the historic Headingley victory in 2014, where his second-innings 160 sealed a famous win. Between 2013 and 2015, he enjoyed a golden run, amassing 2378 runs at a stunning average of 59.45, primarily from the middle order.

Though his form dipped in subsequent years, Mathews proved his enduring class with a strong run in 2022 and 2023, scoring over 2,000 runs at an average above 50, often batting at No. 4. His most recent century came against Afghanistan in February 2024.

Mathews’ departure comes as Sri Lanka faces a sparse Test schedule, with the next red-ball fixtures not expected until mid-2026. Reflecting on his journey, Mathews said, “I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return.”

As Sri Lanka looks ahead to co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup, Mathews could still don national colours in white-ball formats, leaving fans hopeful for one last chapter in his storied career.