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Jayasuriya announces international retirement

Sanath Jayasuriya has said that he will retire from international cricket after Sri Lanka's first ODI against England on June 28 at The Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff
09-Jun-2011
Sanath Jayasuriya's return to the international scene will be brief  •  AFP

Sanath Jayasuriya's return to the international scene will be brief  •  AFP

Sanath Jayasuriya has announced he will retire from international cricket after Sri Lanka's first ODI against England on June 28, at The Oval, and revealed his decision within hours of being recalled to the squad close to his 42nd birthday.
"The England tour will be my last tour for my country. I will play the first one-day and the Twenty20 match and retire," Jayasuriya said on Thursday. "I am thrilled that the selectors had faith in my fitness."
"I am still fit enough to play international cricket, though I have not played much one-day matches for the past several months," he said. "Age is never an issue. I will be 42. So long as fitness and form is maintained, player burn-out is managed properly, there is scope for seniors like myself to represent the country."
There was recent speculation over the possible inclusion of Jayasuriya, who turns 42 on June 30, following the thumb injury sustained by captain and opener Tillakaratne Dilshan against England at Lord's that has put him in doubt for the third Test - though he has been named in the limited-overs squad - and the absence of Upul Tharanga due to his failed drugs test.
Jayasuriya had retired from Tests in 2007 and last played in an ODI for Sri Lanka in 2009. He was left out of the list of 20 players who were offered central contracts by Sri Lanka Cricket in 2010. Though he was named in the provisional squad of 30 for the 2011 World Cup, he did not make the final 15.
Jayasuriya is next only to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of ODI runs and appearances, having made 13,428 from 444 matches.