Kaluwitharana Retires

Sri Lanka's wicket-keeper/batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

The 34-year-old decided to quit after being left out of the training squad for next month's tour to New Zealand.

Kaluwitharana told reporters "I have decided to call it a day, I started my Test career on a high note with a century against Australia and I'm happy to end it with a half-century against Pakistan."

"Prior to the Pakistan tour I was thinking about retiring at the end of the year, but I'm still struggling with the wrist injury I picked up in Pakistan and having not been picked for New Zealand the time is right."

"There is a right time for everything in life and, although this is very emotional time and that I know I have more cricket left in me, I'm happy that this time has come."

"I would like to thank everyone - family, team-mates, fans and friends - for all the support over the years and I wish Sri Lankan cricket all the best for the future."

Kaluwitharana ended his career with surprisingly low averages considering the amount of half centuries he has scored with his electric batting style, especially his pinch-hitting exploits at the top of the order in the shorter version of the game.

But Kaluwitharana's high-risk all or nothing approach contributed to his highly inconsistence returns and his final Test average of 26.12 in 49 matches, including three hundreds and 9 fifties, does not do his obvious natural talent justice. The story is just the same in the shorter version where in his 189 one-dayers, he finished with 3711 runs, which included 23 half-centuries however it also included 24 ducks.

But while Kaluwitharana was struggling for consistency with the bat he didn't have the same problems behind the stumps where he was a highly able keeper, claiming a combined total of 225 catches and 101 stumpings for Sri Lanka.

One of Kaluwitharana's lasting memories that he will take away from the game will no doubt how during the 1996 World Cup when he teamed up with Sanath Jayasuriya to help change the face of the one-day game with the onslaught in the first 15 overs of the match, which has become the normal approach in the modern game, along with scoring a Test century on debut (132*) against the Australians.

Kaluwitharana, who captains his current club side, Colts Cricket Club, will also retire from first-class cricket as well at the end of the season.

Posted by Richard