Another veteran player has now decided to retire from the Test format. He is former Sri Lanka captain and brilliant all-rounder Angelo Mathews. The 37-year-old Mathews will bid farewell to the format after playing the first match of a two-Test series to be played during Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in June. In a statement, Mathews said that the time is right for him to retire from Test cricket so that the next generation can take over and that he will continue to play in the limited-overs format.
Regarding his decision to retire from Test cricket, Angelo Mathews said in his statement, "The Test match against Bangladesh in June will be his last match in this format. Although I am bidding farewell to this format, after discussions with the selectors, I will be available to play in the limited-overs format whenever the team needs me. I believe that our Test team now has a mix of experienced and young players and this is a good opportunity for the new youngsters to shine. It is my favourite format of cricket for me but now it is time to bid it farewell. It is an honour and a privilege for me to have played this format for Sri Lanka for the last 17 years." Talking about Angelo Mathews' performance in Test cricket, he has scored 8167 runs at the rate of 44.62 in 118 matches, which includes 16 centuries and 45 half-centuries. Mathews will don the white jersey for the last time in the first Test of the series against Bangladesh starting June 17 and will have the chance to overtake Virat Kohli to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket on home soil, a feat he is just 13 runs behind. Apart from the two Test matches, Bangladesh will also play three ODIs and the same number of T20Is in Sri Lanka.
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