Nuwan Kulasekara announces his retirement from Test Cricket

“I would like to retire from playing Test cricket with immediate effect. After much thought I believe it is the right time to retire and I hope it will allow me to better prepare for ODI and T20 cricket, which I would like to continue playing for Sri Lanka subject to good performance and selection,” the 33-year-old right-arm bowler said in a media release issued by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday. He sent a letter to SLC announcing his decision.

Kulasekara had played 21 Tests and picked up 48 wickets since making his debut in April 2005. He had the ability to move the new ball and was known for his accuracy as his pace was not his strong area.The former strike bowler had best innings figures of 4/21 which came against Pakistan in the first innings of the P Sara Oval Test in July 2009. He bagged four more scalps in the second innings to achieve a match-haul of 8 for 58 – his best show in a Test.

Kulasekara played his last Test in June 2014 at Lord’s where Sri Lanka played a nail-biting draw with England. Kulasekara had a decent enough technique to make valuable contributions with the bat as well. At Lord’s in 2009, after making a handy 29 in the first innings, he scored a crucial 64 – his highest score in Tests – which helped Sri Lanka avoid a loss against England.

In the limited overs format, he is a valuable asset for the Sri lankan Team. He has played 173 ODIs and was ranked as the No. 1 bowler in March 2009 after a 47 wicket haul in the preceding eleven months that season.  But he was unable to replicate his ODI performances in Tests, as a result of which he could only play 21 matches in 11 years.