Veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews officially brought his storied Test career to an end on June 21 after Sri Lanka’s drawn Test against Bangladesh in Galle. Following the match, Mathews reflected on his journey and named two standout moments from his 15-year-long stint in red-ball cricket—Sri Lanka’s historic Test series win in England in 2014 and their 3-0 whitewash of Australia at home in 2016.
Mathews, who made his Test debut in 2009, was part of both landmark triumphs and played a central role in each. In 2014, under his captaincy, Sri Lanka defeated England 1-0 in a two-match series—their first-ever Test series win on English soil. Two years later, Mathews again led from the front as Sri Lanka stunned Australia in a dominant 3-0 sweep at home, with a side stacked with young spinners and emerging talents.
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“Since I announced my retirement, I cannot believe the love I have received. Certainly overwhelmed (with the love). Ever so grateful to all of you, who have supported me throughout. Not an easy journey – lots of ups and downs, but through it all, I was able to do it because of the support I received,” Mathews said during the post-match presentation.
“The win against England in England, and whitewashing the Australians in Sri Lanka 3-0 – that was a huge highlight and honour, achieved by the entire team,” he added.
Both series wins came during Mathews’ captaincy tenure and are widely regarded as two of Sri Lanka’s finest achievements in modern Test cricket. Reflecting after his final match in Galle, the 37-year-old acknowledged these two campaigns as the defining moments of his red-ball career.
In the Galle Test against Bangladesh, Mathews signed off with scores of 39 and 8. While his final innings may not have been among his most impactful, it was marked by tributes from teammates and opponents alike. He received a guard of honour during the first innings and was warmly applauded by the Bangladesh players as he exited the Test arena for the last time.
Mathews concludes his career as Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with 8,214 runs in 119 matches at an average of 44.4, including 16 centuries and 49 fifties. Only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have scored more Test runs for the country.
From being Sri Lanka’s youngest-ever Test captain to becoming a pillar of stability through transitional years, Mathews’ legacy is built as much on leadership as it is on performance. And fittingly, the two moments he cherishes most are the ones that brought immense pride to his nation.
