Angelo Mathews, approaching his 38th birthday, has announced he will retire from Test cricket following the first Test match against Bangladesh in Galle, set to begin on 17 June. Although stepping away from the longest format, Mathews has indicated his willingness to be available for selection in limited-overs cricket “if and when my country needs me.”
Mathews, who hasn’t featured in a limited-overs game for Sri Lanka in nearly a year, will conclude a distinguished Test career of 119 matches that began in 2009. Over the years, he has been a consistent presence in the team. However, with Sri Lanka’s Test schedule thinning out, Mathews, who turns 38 next week, might have faced a long wait until the next Test series in May 2026.
Reflecting on his journey, Mathews shared, “The past 17 years of playing cricket for Sri Lanka has been my highest honour and pride. I have given everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return and made me the person I am today. Whilst I bid adieu to the Test format, as discussed with selectors I will remain available for selection for the white-ball format, if and when my country needs me.” With Sri Lanka set to co-host the T20 World Cup with India in early 2026, there’s a possibility Mathews might feature in that squad.
During his tenure, Mathews led Sri Lanka in 34 Tests, overseeing some landmark victories. Notably, his innings of 160 runs in the second innings at Headingley in 2014 was pivotal in securing a memorable win. Mathews stands as the third-highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in Test cricket, with a total of 8,167 runs, following behind legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. He has scored 16 centuries and holds a respectable Test batting average of 44.62. Although he bowled infrequently, he managed to take 33 wickets in his Test career.
Between 2013 and 2015, Mathews hit a rich vein of form, amassing 2,378 runs at an impressive average of 59.45, predominantly batting in the middle-order positions. While he didn’t maintain this level for long, he remained a vital player, particularly in 2022 and 2023, scoring 2,141 runs at an average of 51.15 after moving to the No. 4 spot. His most recent century was against Afghanistan in February 2024.
Despite a few controversies, including a public disagreement with former coach Chandika Hathurusinghe during 2017 and 2018, Mathews has adapted and placed greater focus on maintaining his fitness, especially following a series of leg injuries earlier in his career.
