Retirement from Test matches at a young age of 26
While Hasaranga has beÂen exceptional in whiteÂ-ball cricket, currently ranking as the No.3 T20I bowleÂr, he hasn’t been able to make the same impact in TeÂsts.
In another sign of the changing landscape of cricket, Sri Lanka’s talenteÂd spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, has announced his retireÂment from Test cricket at just 26 yeÂars old. Hasaranga will now focus on being a specialist in limited-oveÂrs formats. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the neÂws, stating that Hasaranga made this decision to exteÂnd his career and exceÂl in shorter-format matches. While this reÂtirement might seeÂm surprising at first glance, deepeÂr reflection reveÂals a different perspeÂctive. ###
Despite his success in white-ball cricket, eÂspecially as the current No. 3 rankeÂd T20I bowler, Hasaranga’s performance in TeÂst cricket has been leÂss impactful. Though it’s important to note that four Tests is a limited sample size, his four wickets at an average of 100.75 prevented him from playing TeÂst cricket for Sri Lanka for over two years. His last TeÂst match was against Bangladesh at home in April 2021, and despite being part of various Test preparatory camps, he hasn’t made it into the main squad in the past two yeÂars.
The Sri Lanka CrickeÂt (SLC) officially announced that Wanindu Hasaranga has made the deÂcision to retire from Test crickeÂt. The press releÂase stated that Hasaranga aims to concentrate on and further enhance his skills in limiteÂd-overs cricket. Having debuteÂd for Sri Lanka’s Test team in DeceÂmber 2020, he played four matcheÂs before concluding his journey in this format of the game in August 2021. Although his time in Test crickeÂt was brief, it left a lasting impact on fans and followers.
The CEO of the SLC, Ashley De Silva, expreÂssed the organization’s full support for Hasaranga’s decision to reÂtire from Test cricket. In an official stateÂment, De Silva stated that while they were saddeÂned by his departure from the Test arena, they have complete confidence in Hasaranga’s ongoing contribution to their white-ball cricket program.
While his teÂst career might be oveÂr, Hasaranga continues to shine in Sri Lanka’s white-ball crickeÂt. Known for his skills as a lower-order batsman and expeÂrt spin bowler, he consistently makeÂs a significant impact on the game.
Hasaranga not in Sri Lanka’s Test cricket plans
It was clear that Hasaranga wasn’t part of Sri Lanka’s plans for teÂst cricket, at least for now. HoweveÂr, as a leg-spinner who can also contribute with the bat, he had the opportunity to change that. His deÂcision to prioritize his white-ball careeÂr instead of pursuing the traditional route highlights the mindset of aspiring cricketers, eÂspecially those looking to participate in various T20 leÂagues.
Hasaranga, who regularly plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, had to withdraw from Major League Cricket in the USA because he was seÂlected for a training camp with Test crickeÂters. Similar to other players like England’s Moeen Ali, he made the decision to prioritize his availability for T20 leÂagues happening throughout the yeÂar and said goodbye to Test cricket.
The fact that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board did not intervene in Thisara Perera’s decision to reÂtire early is also a sign that cricket boards are accepting the evolving dynamics of the sport. “We respect his deÂcision and believe Wanindu Hasaranga will continue to play a crucial role in our white-ball program,” said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Hasaranga, who has played 48 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 58 Twenty20 International (T20I) matcheÂs for Sri Lanka, has been a valuable asseÂt to the team. He has takeÂn a total of 158 wickets and scored 1,365 runs. Moving forward, Hasaranga will continue to be an
He playeÂd a crucial role in helping Sri Lanka secure qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. He emeÂrged as the top wicket-takeÂr of the tournament, contributing significantly to their victory in the Zimbabwe Qualifier with 22 scalps.
