Sri Lankan cricket stalwart Angelo Mathews played his final Test match at the very ground where his red-ball journey began — the Galle International Stadium. The first Test of the series against Bangladesh marked the end of a memorable Test career for the 38-year-old, who debuted at the same venue in 2009. Over the years, Galle became a second home for Mathews, where he amassed 2,253 runs in 34 Tests, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer at the iconic ground.
Reflecting on the game, Mathews emphasised the importance of a strong first-innings total. Bangladesh, led by an inspired Najmul Hossain Shanto, posted a dominant 400-plus total that set the tone for the match. Mathews acknowledged the difficulty of coming back from such a position and credited Shanto for his outstanding twin centuries — 148 in the first innings and an unbeaten 125 in the second — which earned the Bangladesh captain the Player of the Match award.
“Once you get a 400 in the first innings, it’s really difficult to lose a game,” Mathews said during the post-match presentation. “I thought we scrapped our way through to minimise the lead, and in the second innings, Shanto batted brilliantly.”
He also spoke about the nature of the pitch, which offered minimal support to bowlers despite some occasional turn. “It was a tough wicket for the bowlers. There were times it turned a little bit but didn’t really have anything for them. We could have pushed for a win, but unfortunately, we couldn’t,” he admitted.
Although his journey in Test cricket has come to an end, Mathews made it clear that his cricketing career isn’t over just yet. Looking ahead, he expressed his ambition to represent Sri Lanka in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup and hopes to sign off with another World Cup title. Mathews was part of the Sri Lankan side that lifted the T20 World Cup in 2014, beating India in the final.
“I’ve still got six more months to go. I’ll give it my best shot for the (2026) T20 World Cup. I would love to sign off with a World Cup win,” he said, adding that he will assess his body’s response before making any final decisions.
Mathews also shared his emotions surrounding his retirement announcement, saying he was overwhelmed by the love and appreciation from fans, teammates, and the cricketing fraternity.
“Ever since I announced my retirement, I just can’t imagine the love I have received. It feels so special, very heartwarming. I’m so thankful to all of them,” he said in closing.
As one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable all-rounders steps away from the Test arena, the cricketing world bids farewell to a true servant of the game — while Mathews turns his focus to one final shot at white-ball glory.