Galle: Sri Lanka are planning to give star batsman Mahela Jayawardene a fitting farewell by winning his remaining matches, captain Angelo Mathews said ahead of the first Test against South Africa starting on Wednesday.
Jayawardene announced he will retire from the longest format of the game in August, after the two-Test rubber against South Africa followed by two matches against Pakistan (Aug 6-18).
The 37-year-old right hander will only be available for ODIs, having also retired from Twenty20 cricket in April this year.
“We need a player like him in the team, but he (Jayawardene) has decided to say goodbye,” Mathews said at a pre-match press conference in Galle today.
“If we can send him off by winning all four Tests it will be great.” (AFP)