SL vs Aus 2nd Check – WTC – Dimuth Karunaratne to retire from Check cricket after making one hundredth look for Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne is ready to retire from Check cricket after taking part in his one hundredth recreation this week, in opposition to Australia in Galle.

Three elements have performed into the choice. With Sri Lanka set to play solely two additional Checks till Might 2026, there may be barely any cricket for a long-format specialist similar to Karunaratne to concentrate on. Karunaratne, 36, has additionally struggled for runs over the previous 14 months, averaging 27.05 because the begin of 2024. That is additionally Sri Lanka’s last Check of this World Check Championship cycle.

“It was the suitable time to go, contemplating there are three or 4 youthful gamers who may are available in for the subsequent WTC cycle,” Karunaratne instructed ESPNcricinfo. “Plus, this match was in Galle, the place I made my debut, so it will likely be good to complete issues there.

“After the primary Check in opposition to Australia ended, I instructed SLC that the subsequent Check can be my final.”

Karunaratne had made his Check debut in November 2012 in opposition to New Zealand, on the identical floor the place he’s now set to retire. He was dropped from the crew briefly in 2014, however struck his first Check hundred in direction of the top of that 12 months. He has hit 15 centuries since, roughly having fun with a constant place within the Check crew, till changing into one among its senior-most gamers.

By way of the course of his 12 years in Checks, Karunaratne has scored by far essentially the most Check runs for a Sri Lanka opener, hitting 7079 at a mean of 39.99 in that place. He can even grow to be Sri Lanka’s seventh cricketer to 100 Checks, following Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews.

“Enjoying 100 Checks is a tricky factor to perform, particularly whenever you’re a gap batter and also you’re doing the soiled work for the crew,” Karunaratne instructed ESPNcricinfo. “If I’ve regrets, one among them can be not with the ability to get to 10,000 Check runs. I assumed the best way that I used to be getting into 2017, 2018 and 2019, that I would have the possibility to get there. However then Covid hit, and Sri Lanka do not play as many Checks anymore.

“I am going to take a little bit of a break for myself after spending so a few years taking part in cricket. However finally, I would prefer to get entangled once more”

Dimuth Karunaratne

“I would even have cherished to make it to a World Check Championship last and expertise that feeling of being in a last. We have been shut twice, nevertheless it by no means occurred.”

Karunaratne captained Sri Lanka in 30 Checks. His first brush with the captaincy was his most fruitful. In early 2019, he was elevated unexpectedly to management after the earlier captain, Dinesh Chandimal, was dropped from the aspect. Sri Lanka instantly claimed one among their nice collection victories, underneath Karunaratne, beating South Africa 2-0 away from house. He additionally captained Sri Lanka within the ODI World Cup later that very same 12 months, and has performed 50 ODIs in all, however has by no means appeared in a T20I.

Now primarily based in Melbourne, Karunaratne hopes to pursue teaching after his retirement. “I am going to take a little bit of a break for myself after spending so a few years taking part in cricket,” he stated. “However finally, I would prefer to get entangled once more.”

The second Check in opposition to Australia – now Karunaratne’s final – begins on Thursday.