Cricket Buzz: Jayawardene to quit Test cricket next month

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will retire from Test cricket following the home series against South Africa and Pakistan, the country's cricket board said on Monday.

"It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years, but I believe this is the right time," the 37-year-old said in a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket.

The stylish right-handed batsman is the most capped Test player for Sri Lanka with 145 appearances and his 11,493 runs shares sixth spot, along with compatriot Kumar Sangakkara, on the list of highest scorers in the longest format of the game.

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One of the most elegant batsmen of his generation, Jayawardene has scored 33 Test centuries since his debut against India in 1997 and enjoys a batting average of a little more than 50 runs per innings.

He also had two stints as Sri Lanka's captain and was a safe pair of hands in the slips cordon, evident from his 197 catches in Tests.

In April, both Jayawardene and Sangakkara announced their retirements from the shortest format after Sri Lanka won the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Jayawardene will, however, continue playing the 50-over format for Sri Lanka, making himself available for next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The island nation will host South Africa in a two-Test series starting on Wednesday before another two-match series against Pakistan next month.

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After a brave show on Day 1, India A were pushed on the backfoot courtesy a fine half-century by Australia A bastman Ben Cutting and a three-wicket haul by pacer Chadd Sayers on Day 2 of the second and final unofficial Test at Allan Border Field, in Brisbane, on Monday.

Responding to Australia A's first innings score of 423 in the four-day game, the visitors ended on 165 for three with Manoj Tiwary (50 not out) and Baba Aparajith (20 not out) fighting on. India A still trail the hosts by 258 runs.

Australia A medium-pacer Sayers (3/22) sent opener Robin Uthappa for 10 and then cleaned up Lokesh Rahul for 52, who notched up his eighth first-class fifty.

Karnataka batsman Lokesh looked solid in his 102-ball stay as his innings was laced by seven boundaries and a six. He put on a 67-run second-wicket partnership with Jiwanjot Singh.

Sayers struck again for the final time of the day to get Singh caught behind for 29 and put the visitors in trouble again.

Aparajith and Tiwary then stuck together to manage an unbeaten 69-run partnership and give the team hope for the next day's play.

Earlier, resuming on the overnight score of 288 for seven, the Aussies picked up the strings from last evening as Cutting (96) and Cameron Boyce (57) continued the counter-attack to stitch a 133-run eight-wicket partnership.

Playing on his home turf, Cutting combined the right dose of caution and aggression to trouble the Indian bowlers and hit five fours and four sixes in his 117-ball innings.

Off-spinner Aparajith broke the partnership after scalping Boyce with Uthappa pulling off a neat catch.

Umesh Yadav (5/83), who had picked up three wickets on Day 1 on Sunday, bagged a five wicket haul while Amit Mishra had to remain content with 4/142.

On the opening day, Australia A won the toss and elected to bat with skipper James Faulkner scoring a brave 94 along with Peter Forrest, who also contributed a strokeful 77.

For India A, Yadav and Mishra bowled well on Sunday only to give away the advantage on the next morning.