Tillakaratne Dilshan to retire from Test cricket

One of Sri Lanka's most flamboyant opening batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan has decided to quit Test cricket. Dilshan, who turns 37 on October 14, will continue to play limited overs cricket as he remains one of the most destructive batsmen in the shorter format of the game. Dilshan will make a formal announcement in Colombo on Thursday.

Since making his Test debut against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in November 1999, Dilshan has played 87 Tests and scored 5492 runs at a modest average of 40.98. He has scored 16 Test centuries and 23 fifties at a strike rate of 65.54. His last Test was against Bangladesh in March this year in Colombo. Dilshan's best Test knock of 193 came against versus England's at hallowed Lord's in June 2011. The high-scoring Test match ended in a draw.

Dilshan will continue to play limited overs cricket. Very much in the Virender Sehwag mould, Dilshan remains one of the most innovative batsmen in world cricket. He 'invented' the 'Dilscoop', a shot that has fetched him many runs at the international level. He has captained Sri Lanka but he has been better off opening the innings for the island nation.