 Sri Lankan left-arm medium-pace bowler, Chaminda Vaas has decided to retire
from international test match cricket at the end of the on-going third test match
between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the SSC stadium in Colombo. However,
he has added that he will be available to play ODIs and T20Is till the end of
the 2011 World Cup, which will be played in the sub-continent.
Not taking any questions from any of the reporters, he did say this, "am
officially retiring from Test cricket after the third Test against Pakistan,
but will continue playing one-day and Twenty20 matches till the 2011 World Cup."
Vaas becomes the second such retirement in the span of ten days, after Andrew
Flintoff had earlier retired from test matches to concentrate on the ODIs
and T20Is.
Vaas had last played a test match on that ill-fated tour to Pakistan this year
when the Sri Lankan buses had been attacked by the terrorists. He was dropped
from the Sri Lankan squad for the ICC World T20s and not chosen for the first
two test matches against Pakistan as well. He forms a part of the four-pronged
pace attack playing this game, partnering Thilan Thushara, Angelo
Mathew and Nuwan Kulasekera in the attack.
Over the period of time, the pace of Vaas had gradually begun to reduce with
age, but what he lost in speed, he more than covered up with his guile and the
ability to make the ball go both the ways. He also had an off-cutter in his
armory, which troubled most batsmen from across the world.
This is the 111th test match he is playing, and before this, he has scalped
354 test match wickets at an average of 29.40. In the shorter version of the
game, that is, the ODIs, he has already got to the 400 wickets-mark and also
holds the record for the best ever bowling in the format; 8/19 against the Zimbabweans.
To add to his superb bowling, he has scored more than 3000 runs in test match
cricket with a century to his name as well.
Vaas had been picked by the Deccan Chargers before the start of the
first edition of the IPL and had a moderate first season. Vaas also probably
holds the record for having the longest full-name amongst contemporary cricketers,
which goes like this; Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas,
or as his initials say, WPUJ Chaminda Vaas!
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