October 04 Friday 2002
Aravinda retires from Test cricket 

COLOMBO: Ace Sri Lankan batting star and leading run-getter of his country, Aravinda de Silva Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket. 

He played 93 Tests for his country, scored 6361 runs at an average of 42.97 including 20 hundreds after making his Test debut against England at Lords in 1994. 

36-year-old Aravinda informed chief selector and former Sri Lankan Test player Guy de Alwis that he will not be available to future Test matches. 

However, Aravinda has indicated that he would be available for selection in one-day internationals. 

Aravinda played key role in Sri Lanka lifting the 1996 World Cup at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore with his scintillating hundred. 

Aravinda is currently in England representing a Rest of the World XI against the Brits in the first ever indoor international to be played there. 

He was out of the Sri Lankan team for nearly a year and half after making a comeback in the Lankan team. Aravinda with 8803 runs to his credit in 288 matches is currently third highest run-getter behind Sachin Tendulkar (11544), Muhammad Azharuddin (9378).