By BV Swagath
Sri Lanka’s aggressive batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has announced his retirement from Test Cricket. The 36-year-old was planning to retire after playing the scheduled Test Series in Zimbabwe which we know was postponed indefinitely. Dilshan has therefore signed off from Test Cricket with immediate effect but will play for Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is.
Dilshan, who will turn 37 on the 14th of this month, stated that he wanted to clear way for youngsters. With Dilshan’s exit, Sri Lanka will be left with only two experienced batsmen in Mahela Jaywardene and Kumar Sangakkara. It will be a big blow for Sri Lanka in Test Cricket with Dilshan retiring months after another experienced batsman Thilan Samaraweera.
Dilshan had transformed himself as an opener from a middle order batsman like India’s Virender Sehwag. In a Test Career spanning 14 years, Dilshan had also led Sri Lanka in 11 Tests although with little success winning only one match. However, that lone victory was a historic one with Sri Lanka defeating South Africa in South Africa.
Dilshan in a press conference today said: "It's a good time to go. I have done well in my last series with an average of 60, I started (tests) in Zimbabwe in 1999 and planned to retire in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately we don't have any test matches in Sri Lanka until 2015 and that's why I decided to retire without saying goodbye from the ground."
The former Sri Lankan Test Captain retires after playing 87 Tests scoring 16 centuries and 23 50s with a career best of 193. Dilshan ends up with 5492 Tests runs at a healthy average of 40.98. His more than useful off breaks have yielded him 39 wickets.
