Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, on Saturday, announced that he is going to retire from white clothes format after the second Test against India.
In a special press conference conducted after the third day's play of the second Test, the 37-year old, made public his decision to quit the longest format, ending weeks of speculation. The prolific left-hander revealed that he had intended to retire from all forms of cricket after the 2015 Cricket World Cup, but had agreed to play four more Test matches at the behest of Sri Lanka's previous selection committee.
"I've had the time of my life playing for Sri Lanka," Sangakkara said. "It has been a great honor. Growing up as a kid watching players like Aravinda de Silva play for Sri Lanka and then one day to get a chance to play with them.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed playing every format, but donning the whites for Sri Lanka has been a different feeling altogether. There have been so many ups and downs. I've had bad days as well but the good times outweigh the bad. I know, it's disappointing to say goodbye to something you've done for over 15 years, but I know this is the right time to leave."
Sangakkara, who made his Test debut in 2000 in Galle against a visiting South African side, is a holder of several records in Test cricket. His tally of 12271 Test runs at 58.43 (as of the first Test against Sri Lanka) makes him the the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka in the five-day format. Only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288) are above him in the all-time run-getters list.
Sangakkara's 38 Test centuries comprise 11 200+ scores, which is only one behind Sir Don Bradman's tally of 12. Sangakkara, who earlier this year was named CEAT International Cricketer of the year besides being named the Leading Cricketer of 2014-15 by Wisden's Almanack, was only recently upstaged by Steven Smith to the top-spot in the ICC Test Rankings.
- Manohar
