Synopsis
Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lankan opener and former captain, will retire after his 100th Test against Australia in Galle, marking a significant moment in his career. His decision comes after struggling with form, and he aims to conclude his journey on a high note.Key Takeaways
- Dimuth Karunaratne to retire after 100th Test.
- 36-year-old has struggled with batting form.
- Only 182 runs in last seven Tests.
- Wants to retire on a happy note.
- Seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to reach 100 Tests.
Galle, Feb 4 (NationPress) - Sri Lanka's opening batsman and former captain Dimuth Karunaratne plans to retire from international cricket following the second Test against Australia in Galle, commencing Thursday, marking his 100th Test appearance for the national team.
The 36-year-old has captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests and has chosen to retire due to a decline in his batting performance at the opening position. Over the past 14 months, he has encountered severe challenges, achieving an average of only 27.05 since the start of 2024.
In his most recent seven Tests, Karunaratne has managed to score just 182 runs, with the highlight being a single half-century against New Zealand in September 2024.
“It's tough for a Test player to stay motivated to play four Tests annually and keep up his performance. In the last 2-3 years, since the introduction of the World Test Championship (WTC), there have been fewer bilateral series. My current form also played a part; reaching my 100 Tests and concluding the WTC cycle (2023-25), I felt it was the right moment to retire,” Karunaratne shared with the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily FT.
“I have personal plans ahead. After discussing my retirement with other seasoned players like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, we decided it would be better for us to retire one at a time rather than all together. I chose to retire first as I realized I wouldn't reach my next goal of 10,000 runs with the reduced number of Tests. I feel content with my accomplishments and wish to announce my retirement on a joyous occasion like my 100th Test,” he added.
On Thursday, Karunaratne will become the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to achieve the 100-Test milestone, joining the ranks of current head coach Sanath Jayasuriya (110), Muttiah Muralidaran (132), Chaminda Vaas (111), Kumar Sangakkara (134), Mahela Jayawardena (149), and Angelo Mathews (117).
Karunaratne made his Test debut in November 2012 against New Zealand at the same venue where he will now play his final Test. He has amassed 7,172 runs in 99 Test matches to date, including 16 Test centuries. His top score stands at 244, which he achieved against Bangladesh in 2021.
Additionally, he has participated in 50 ODIs, scoring 1,316 runs and recording one century in 2023 against Ireland.
