Mahela Jayawardene to retire from Test cricket after Pakistan series

Mahela Jayawerdene

With cricketers of the stature of Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis having retired from Test cricket in the last two and a half years, leaving a huge void in the longest format of the game, it seems that the trend is not going to end anytime soon with Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene being the latest to announce his Test retirement.

The 37-year-old has decided to call it a day after the back-to-back series against South Africa and Pakistan. The Island nation hosts South Africa for two Test matches starting from July 16. Pakistan are then touring Sri Lanka for a two Test series, which runs from August 6-18, the 2nd of which will be the last of the right-hander’s illustrious career.

"It's been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years, but I believe this is the right time" - @MahelaJay

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 14, 2014

"It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years, but I believe this is the right time," Jayawardene said in a press release.

The former Sri Lanka captain has 11,493 runs from 145 Tests in a career that has lasted 17 long years, scoring 48 half-centuries and 33 centuries at an average of 50.18 with a highest score of 374, against South Africa. He has been the backbone of the Sri Lankan batting unit along with his mate Kumar Sangakkara for the last decade and will be sorely missed, post his retirement, by cricket fans all over the world.

The 37-year old, though, has stated that his desire to continue playing One Day International cricket. With not much time left for the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, he’ll be keen to carry on till the big event scheduled for early next year. He has never won the 50-over World Cup despite coming close on numerous occasions, and he’ll be desperate to end his international career with the most coveted trophy in world cricket under his belt.