Mathews to retire from Test cricket after opening Bangladesh match

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews will retire from Test cricket after the opening match of the two-Test series against Bangladesh next month.

Mathews, 37, confirmed on Friday that his 119th and final Test will take place at Galle from June 17 — the same venue where he made his debut against Pakistan in July 2009. He will not feature in the second Test.

The decision comes after a career which has seen Mathews score 8,167 runs in the 118 Tests he has played so far. He has also taken 33 wickets.

“I stand grateful to the game and thankful to the thousands of Sri Lanka cricket fans who have been there for me throughout my career during my highest of highs and lowest of lows,” Mathews said. “Now seems like the best time to make way for a younger player.”

He will continue playing white-ball cricket.

(Source: AFP)