Image courtesy of: The Telegraph

“I have taken this decision to allow Sri Lanka Cricket to groom another youngster in my place”

Sri Lanka opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has announced his retirement from Test cricket in order to make way for youngsters eager to represent their country in the longest format of the game.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) revealed that Dilshan will hold a press conference tomorrow to formally announce his retirement.

“I have taken this decision to allow Sri Lanka Cricket to groom another youngster in my place,” Dilshan said. “I was to announce my retirement after the Zimbabwe Test series but unfortunately the tour was postponed.”

The 36-year-old made his Test debut in 1999 and scored 163 in his second Test match against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.

In an illustrious Test career spanning 14 years, Dilshan represented Sri Lanka in 87 Test matches and amassed 5,492 runs at an impressive average of 40.98.

Dilshan has scored 16 Test centuries and his career-best score of 193 came against England at Lord’s in 2011.

While Dilshan may be stepping down from the longest format of the game, he will still continue to represent Sri Lanka in limited overs cricket.

“I will discuss my future with the national selectors and if they need me I will play till the 2015 World Cup,” Dilshan said.