<p>Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has announced his retirement from Test cricket following the home series against South Africa and Pakistan this year.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said Jayawardene, 37, has written a letter to the chief executive officer Ashley De Silva announcing his wish to retire from the longest version of the game.<br /><br />"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", Jayawardene was quoted as saying.<br /><br />The veteran batsman will play two Tests against South Africa on July 16 and July 24, respectively, followed by a two-match series against Pakistan in August.<br /><br />Jayawardene, though, added that he was fully committed to represent the country in the one-dayers.<br /><br />This would mean that Sri Lanka will not miss him during the World Cup 2015 to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.<br /><br />Jayawardene, who made his Test debut against India in 1997, played 145 Tests scoring 11493 runs with 33 centuries and 48 fifties.<br /><br />Jayawardene (22 and 79 runs) recently made his presence felt in a 100-run win against England at Headingley to give Sri Lanka their first Test series victory -- the Islanders won the two-match series 1-0 -- on English soil.<br /><br />The Colombo-born player also made a vital 24-run contribution in his final Twenty20 appearance against India in the World Cup final in Mirpur on April 6. </p>
<p>Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has announced his retirement from Test cricket following the home series against South Africa and Pakistan this year.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said Jayawardene, 37, has written a letter to the chief executive officer Ashley De Silva announcing his wish to retire from the longest version of the game.<br /><br />"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", Jayawardene was quoted as saying.<br /><br />The veteran batsman will play two Tests against South Africa on July 16 and July 24, respectively, followed by a two-match series against Pakistan in August.<br /><br />Jayawardene, though, added that he was fully committed to represent the country in the one-dayers.<br /><br />This would mean that Sri Lanka will not miss him during the World Cup 2015 to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.<br /><br />Jayawardene, who made his Test debut against India in 1997, played 145 Tests scoring 11493 runs with 33 centuries and 48 fifties.<br /><br />Jayawardene (22 and 79 runs) recently made his presence felt in a 100-run win against England at Headingley to give Sri Lanka their first Test series victory -- the Islanders won the two-match series 1-0 -- on English soil.<br /><br />The Colombo-born player also made a vital 24-run contribution in his final Twenty20 appearance against India in the World Cup final in Mirpur on April 6. </p>