Rangana Herath likely to retire after England series

Sri Lanka Cricket was blessed to have experience in the spin-bowling department after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan. The left-arm spinner Rangana Herath immediately took over the responsibility and won the games for his side single-handedly despite the fact that the age was not on his side. However, it seems the time has come for the legend to bid adieu to international cricket as he is set to hang his boots after the upcoming Test series against England at home.

He could play only a solitary game during Sri Lanka’s recent tour to Windies due to injury and is now expected to play a huge role in the home series against South Africa. The first Test of the three-match series will commence on Thursday and unfortunately, his selection in the playing XI will be based on his fitness.

The time has come for me

Rangana Herath, while speaking to BBC Sinhala, cleared that he is planning to retire from all the three formats of the game after the Test series against England. The Brits are scheduled to play 5 ODIs, one-off T20I and 3 Test match on their tour to the island nation.

“Maybe my final series will be the England series later in the year,” he said. “Following this South Africa series, there is another three months until the England series. For now, this is what I’ve planned for. There comes a time for every cricketer, when they have to stop playing. I think that time has come for me. I’m really glad I’ve been able to play as long as I have,” he said.

Herath has so far played 90 Test matches for Sri Lanka and has picked a whopping 418 wickets in the format. He is one of the oldest active players currently and no wonder will go down as one of the legendary left-arm spinners in the history of the game.

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