'Emotional' Jayasuriya announces Test retirement by AFP

---

Player:	ST Jayasuriya
Event:	Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2005/06

---

DateLine: 1st April 2006

 

Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer Sanath Jayasuriya Friday said he would retire from Test cricket next week to concentrate on the one-day game.

 

The 36-year-old left-handed opener told AFP he would make his final Test appearance in the second match against Pakistan starting in Kandy on Monday.

 

"I thought about it long and hard and decided that's it. It's a very emotional moment, but I guess every good thing has to come to an end," he said.

 

Jayasuriya handed in his letter of resignation to Duleep Mendis, chief executive officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, on Friday.

 

However, he said he would still be available for selection for next year's World Cup.

 

The veteran of 101 Tests is Sri Lanka's most prolific batsman in both forms of the game.

 

But injuries have kept the all-rounder out of the side on a few occasions in the past six months.

 

After missing the three-match one-day series against Pakistan with a thigh strain he just managed six and 13 runs in the drawn first Test in Colombo.

 

A former Sri Lanka captain, Jayasuriya's absence in the top of the order will be missed, but it will allow him to fully concentrate on one-day cricket ahead of the World Cup.

 

Jayasuriya made his Test debut in 1991 against New Zealand in Hamilton but only became a permanent fixture on the side after a thrilling century against Australia in Adelaide where he famously carted Shane Warne around the park.

 

He won the Player of the Tournament award in the 1996 World Cup won by Sri Lanka and, together with Romesh Kaluwitharana, modernised ODI cricket with his audacious stroke play in the first 15 overs.

 

He was appointed captain in 1999, succeeding Arjuna Ranatunga, and quit the captaincy in 2003.

 

Jayasuriya prepares to quit the game having scored 6,599 Test runs with 14 hundreds at an average of 41:76. His useful left arm spin has got him 92 Test wickets and 273 ODI scalps.

 

He is also one of four players -- along with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam ul Haq -- to have completed 10,000 ODI runs.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)