The Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews has announced that he will be retiring from test cricket after the first test against Bangladesh in Galle, starting on June 17.
Mathews, who turns 38 just before the match, will bring the curtains down on his Test career, which began at the very same venue in July 2009.
However, he also confirmed that he will be making himself available for white-ball selection, saying that, “if and when my country needs me.”
“It is time for me to say goodbye to the most cherished format of the game, international Test Cricket! I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return and made me the person I am today,” Mathews wrote in a social media post.
This will be his 119th game in the format, out of which 34 has played as captain. He is set to finish as Sri Lanka’s third-highest run scorer in Tests, behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Ahead of the final test, he has amassed 8167 runs at an average of 44.62 with 16 centuries and a highest score of 200*.
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) May 23, 2025
His impressive form comes in between 2013 and 2015 when he average 74.60 , 77.33 and 42.25 across three years, scoring six hundreds and 12 fifties.
He once again recapured his form, where Mathews averaged over 50 in both 2022 and 2023 season, bringing up four more centuries. His most recent century comes against Afghanistan in 2024.
“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,” Angelo Mathews wrote.
“I believe this Test team is a talented side with many future and present greats playing the game. Now seems like the best time to make way for a younger player to take the mantle to shine for our nation.”
“A chapter ends but the love for the game will always remain,” concluded Angelo Mathews.
The multiformat series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh comprises two tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour will begin with test series and the first test to be played between June 17 and 21 at Galle International Stadium.
