Pawan rathnayake

As Sri Lanka: As Sri Lanka prepares for the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has admitted that replacing the influence and experience of Angelo Mathews will not be an overnight task. Mathews retired from Test cricket last week after a remarkable 119-match career, leaving behind a formidable legacy and a gaping hole in Sri Lanka’s middle order.

“Angelo was a tireless workhorse. He gave everything for the badge and never threw in the towel,” Jayasuriya told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net). “Even after 100-plus Tests, he trained like a rookie, and his enthusiasm was superb. He set high standards, and his absence will be felt – on and off the field.”

Mathews, who is Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-scorer in Test history, announced his retirement, citing the dwindling Test calendar — Sri Lanka are scheduled to play only four Tests in 2025. The decision marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one filled with uncertainty but also opportunity.