Mathews begs Sanga to reconsider retirement

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews says he has got down on his knees to ask in-form veteran Kumar Sangakkara to reconsider his plans to retire from one-day international cricket after the World Cup.

Sangakkara is arguably in the form of his career having peeled off four consecutive centuries in this tournament, the first man to achieve the feat in ODI history.

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But despite his stunning streak, the 37-year-old remains firm that Sri Lanka's final match at this tournament will also be his last in ODIs.

"Retirement is not about form, it is about time and place and whether it feels right," Sangakkara said.

"I've been batting and keeping for a long time, it's getting harder and the joints are creaking and aching, but I consider myself lucky to be part of a great team."

It's a decision that Mathews has accepted, albeit reluctantly.

"I've been on my knees asking Kumar not to retire," Mathews said.

"But we have to respect his wishes because we are thankful for all the times he has represented the country."

Sangakkara set his ODI retirement date last year and says he will also call it a day in Test cricket after Sri Lanka's matches against India in August.

He had already retired from Twenty20 internationals after Sri Lanka's World Twenty20 title victory in Bangladesh last year.

But the wicketkeeper-batsman's career is far from over; he will play in English county cricket this year having signed a deal with Surrey last month.

And Big Bash League Manager Anthony Everard told bigbash.com.au on Thursday that the competition would "absolutely welcome" the Sri Lankan great should one of the eight BBL franchises manage to lure him to Australia next summer.

Despite Sangakkara's “creaking joints”, statistics show that he's got better with age.

In the past two years, the stylish left-hander has averaged just under 60 in 66 ODIs – with 11 centuries and 20 fifties – compared to his overall career record of 25 hundreds, 93 half-centuries and an average of 42 from 403 matches.

He's also averaged 73.50 in his past two years of Test cricket, with six 100s and 10 fifties, compared to his overall average of 58 with 38 hundreds and 51 half-centuries. His six Test hundreds in the past two years have included two double centuries and one triple hundred.

He's also far from a hometown bully; a label occasionally thrown at the Sri Lankan who has dominated on what are generally considered flat pitches in Sri Lanka.

His ODI career average away for home is marginally higher than his overall record, while his Test average outside Sri Lanka (53.13) isn't far off his overall average of 58.66.

Sangakarra will have at least one more ODI to come, with Sri Lanka to play their World Cup quarter-final at the SCG on Wednesday, most likely against South Africa.

Sri Lanka's final match at the tournament will also signal the end of Mahela Jayawardene's ODI career, while 38-year-old opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has spoken of his plans to push on until the 2019 World Cup in England.

Sangakkara will walk away from the 50-over game without any regrets, saying he wants to give the side an opportunity to regenerate

"If I'm not able to play in the next World Cup when one World Cup ends, there is no point in me sticking around," he said in December.

"All I'll end up doing is taking up the spot of another player.

"Dinesh Chandimal ... the likes of Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera have plenty of ability and plenty of talent.

"We need to give them time and opportunities, just like we had when we were younger.

"They need time to settle, and mature and win another World Cup after this next one."