Veteran Sri Lankan batter Dimuth Karunaratne to retire after playing 100th Test

Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is all set to retire from international cricket after playing his 100th Test His 100th Test appearance will come against AustraliaDimuth Karunaratne known as one of the most prolific batsmen for Sri Lanka has garnered 7172 runs with an average of under 40 He has 16 centuries and 34 halfcenturies in 99 Test matches Having represented Sri Lanka in 50 ODIs he has smashed 1316 runs with one century and 11 halfcenturiesIt is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form Dimuth Karunaratne who made his Test debut in 2012 was quoted as saying by Daily FTIn the last twothree years after the WTC World Test Championship was introduced we have been having very little bilateral series My current form is another reason completing my 100 Tests the end of the WTC cycle 202325 I thought is the right time to retireDimuth Karunaratne is looking forward to relocating to Australia with his family next month Having made his firstclass debut for Sinhalese Sports Club SSC in 2008 he will play his final match for them against NCC in the SLC Major Club Three Day Tournament from February 1416Also Readis a coachs dream to work with Mahela Jayawardene hails this bowlerI have some personal plans of my own Ive decided to retire after speaking to other senior players like Angie Angelo Mathews and Chandi Dinesh Chandimal he saidRather than the three of us retiring at the same time it will be better for us to go one by one I thought I will retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target 10000 runs with the lesser number of Tests being playedI am happy with what I have achieved so far I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th TestDimuth Karunaratne has been struggling to find himself among runs In the first Test match against Australia he managed to score just seven and 0 runsAny cricketers dream is to play 100 Tests and score 10000 runs Its a big achievement When you start playing cricket you dont think of those targets but when you continue playing you come across different targets he saidBut as Sri Lanka are playing less Test matches for a year getting to 10000 runs seems far away Appearing in 100 Tests I feel is an achievement he addedHe would look back at his career as a satisfied man due to its sheer longevitySeveral players play Test cricket but only a handful are able to go and play 100 Tests To become a member of that exclusive club I am very happy To become Sri Lankas seventh cricketer to play in 100 Tests is also a happy moment he signed offWith PTI Inputs