Sri Lanka's bowling all-rounder, Dilruwan Perera has announced his retirement from international cricket. The off-spinner represented the island nation in 43 Tests, 13 ODIs and three T20Is in a career spanning 14 years. Perera, having made his debut in 2007, picked 177 wickets and scored 1,456 runs across formats.
According to reports, Perera conveyed his decision via email to the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, Ashley de Silva. He, however, confirmed that he will continue playing domestic cricket (including T20 leagues). Dilruwan last played for Sri Lanka in January 2021 against England in Galle where he picked up a wicket and scored 71 runs.
Dilrwuan's statement
“Sri Lanka Cricket has been a source of great inspiration and support throughout my time and I remain grateful to you, the executive committee, and my coaches past and present."
“I will continue to play domestic cricket for a while longer but for now I think the time is right to call it curtains on my international cricket journey... I’ve had the privilege and honour of playing with some of the best in the game, I leave with fond memories and a heart full of joy."
Dilrwuan's career in numbers
Perera is the fastest Sri Lankan bowler to complete 50 and 100 Test wickets, having achieved the milestone in 11 and 25 matches respectively. He is the first Sri Lankan to take 10 wickets and score a half-century in the same Test. The 39-year-old finishes as Sri Lanka’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, having scalped 161 wickets in 43 Tests. He has eight five-wicket hauls in Tests alongside a couple of 10-wicket hauls. His best bowling performance came against Australia in Galle when he picked up six wickets in the last innings to hand the visitors a massive defeat by 229 runs.
In ODIs, Perera averaged 31.46 and went on to pick 13 wickets from as many games while the three T20Is brought in three wickets. He played his last ODI in 2018 and his last T20I appearance was way back in 2011.
He was handy with the bat as well, scoring 1,303 runs in the longest format to go on with seven half-centuries. His highest score of 95 came against Pakistan in 2014.
The spinner has been phenomenal in domestic cricket, having scalped over 800 wickets in over 200 First-Class appearances.
Just like Rangana Herath, Dilrwuan spent most of his Test career in the shadow of the great Muttiah Muralitharan. In December 2017, he broke Muralitharan's record to become the fastest player in his country and seventh overall to 100 Test wickets.
