Mahela Jayawardene © Getty Images
Mahela Jayawardene © Getty Images

 

Jul 14, 2014

 

The cricket fraternity on Monday paid rich tributes to Sri Lankan batting star Mahela Jayawardene, who announced that the series against South Africa and Pakistan would be his last in Test cricket. Sri Lanka are set to take on South Africa in a two-match series starting July 16.

 

In a letter to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief executive Ashley de Silva, Jayawardene said, “It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years, but I believe this is the right time”.

 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hopes his side will be able to carry on their good run in this year, as they take on South Africa in a two-match home Test series starting on Wednesday. Mathews’s personal form has improved since taking charge of the team last February — and with the ever-dependable Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara alongside him, the home team are a strong outfit.

 

The cricket fraternity expressed their thoughts on Jayawardene’s retirement. Here are a few:

 

 

 

 

 

Complete coverage of Mahela Jayawardene’s retirement from Test cricket