Veteran Sri Lankan allrounder Angelo Mathews has announced that he will retire from Test cricket following the first match of the upcoming series against Bangladesh in Galle this June. The 36-year-old confirmed the decision via a heartfelt statement on social media, bringing down the curtain on a distinguished red-ball career that has spanned over 15 years and nearly 120 Tests.
Mathews, who made his Test debut in 2009 against Pakistan, has been a mainstay in the Sri Lankan middle order for over a decade. With 8167 runs at an average of 44.62, including 16 centuries, he is Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-scorer in Test history—behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
“This journey has been the greatest honour of my life,” Mathews said. “I have given everything to cricket, and cricket has given me everything in return. As I bid farewell to the Test format, I remain available for white-ball cricket—if and when my country needs me.”
The timing of Mathews’ retirement aligns with a lean period in Sri Lanka’s Test calendar. Following the Bangladesh series, the national team is not scheduled to play another Test until at least May 2026, prompting the former captain to bow out gracefully rather than prolong a waiting game.
Mathews captained Sri Lanka in 34 Tests, notably leading them to a historic victory at Headingley in 2014, where his match-winning 160 in the second innings remains one of his finest moments. Although he bowled less frequently in the latter stages of his career due to injury setbacks, he still picked up 33 wickets in the format, adding valuable overs when needed.
His golden years with the bat came between 2013 and 2015, a period during which he amassed 2378 runs at an average nearing 60, largely batting in the middle order. A later resurgence in 2022 and 2023 saw him score over 2000 runs at an average above 50, this time primarily from the No. 4 position.
Mathews’ career was not without turbulence. A public falling out with then-coach Chandika Hathurusingha around 2017–18 cast a shadow for a time, but he returned to form through renewed focus on fitness and professionalism, extending his career well into his late 30s.
Despite being out of white-ball squads since mid-2023, Mathews has not closed the door entirely on limited-overs cricket. With Sri Lanka co-hosting the 2026 T20 World Cup alongside India, a potential return for the global event remains a possibility.
As the cricketing world prepares to bid farewell to one of its quiet achievers in the longest format, Mathews’ legacy as a stabilising force in Sri Lanka’s post-Sangakkara-Jayawardene era remains firmly intact. Galle, a venue that has seen many of his memorable contributions, will now host his final act in whites.