[PICTURES] Dimuth Karunaratne calls time on his international cricket career [Post Updated #23]

[Abdullah719]

Dimuth Karunaratne continued his climb up the batting rankings chart to reach No. 7 after a Player-of-the-Series performance for Sri Lanka.

In the low-scoring series against South Africa, which finished 2-0 in favour of the hosts, opener Karunaratne was the biggest batting highlight.

He scored 158*, 60, 53 and 85 to total 356 runs in the two Tests, taking him up three places to a career-high 754 points in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings for batsmen update on Tuesday, 24 July.

With Dinesh Chandimal, their regular captain who missed the series owing to suspension, at No.8, Sri Lanka now have two batsmen in the top 10.

Angelo Mathews is also up four places to No.24 among batsmen, thanks to his fighting 71 in the second Test.

Other gainers in the Sri Lankan camp were Danushka Gunathilaka, up 36 spots to No. 73, and Akila Dananjaya, the off-spinner, whose seven wickets vaulted him up 16 places to No.39 among bowlers and up 25 to No.46 among all-rounders.

South Africa have been disappointing all around, and their inability to come to terms with the conditions is reflected in the changes in rankings.

Kagiso Rabada lost the No.1 position on the bowling table to England’s James Anderson. Dale Steyn, who had made the top spot his for years, is still waiting for the one wicket that will make him South Africa’s leading wicket-taker, and slipped by four to No.24.

Openers Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram have slipped to the edge of the top 10, while Hashim Amla is down three to No.14.

Only two people would be smiling from the visitors’ camp. Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner, finished the series with 16 wickets, including a match haul of 12 in the second Test. He jumped five places into the top 20, settling at No. 18.

Then, Theunis de Bruyn’s remarkable fourth-innings century in the second Test took him up 43 to No.105 among batsmen.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Karunaratne has been remarkably consistent and so deserves this.He’s only 30 so he can improve on his overall record.He already has 8 test hundreds.

 

[New Yorker]

Why have the ODI player rankings not been updated to account for the last games of the Pak ZIm series? Isn't this supposed to happen after the end of each series?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Why have the ODI player rankings not been updated to account for the last games of the Pak ZIm series? Isn't this supposed to happen after the end of each series?

The ICC have not yet released the ODI rankings update.Strange.

 

[hadi123]

To be ranked above the likes of Alastair Cook and Hashim Amla is not easy.

 

[Hasan123]

He is a much improved player.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka test captain Karunaratne arrested for drink driving

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's test captain Dimuth Karunaratne was arrested on Sunday for drink driving after an accident injured at least one person near the main hospital in capital Colombo, a police spokesman said.

"He was arrested early this morning for drinking and driving after the vehicle driven by him hit a three wheeler and injured its driver," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters.

"He has been granted bail. He will be produced in the court tomorrow (Monday)."

Karunaratne, who has no history of disciplinary problems, or his lawyer was not immediately available for comments.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the incident and said it will follow due process in determining the future course of action.

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform that a road accident has occurred in the early hours of Sunday between a three-wheeler and a vehicle driven by national player Dimuth Karunaratne," the board said in a statement.

"Dimuth is undergoing due legal procedures with regard to the incident.

"In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket will also follow the due process as per his 'Player Contractual Obligation' with the organisation and conduct an inquiry in order to take necessary action."

Sri Lanka won a two-test series against South Africa last month under Karunaratne's captaincy to become the first Asian team to win a test series in the African nation.

The left-handed opening batsman has played 60 tests for the island team.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/31/sri-lanka-test-captain-karunaratne-arrested-for-drink-driving

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka test captain Karunaratne arrested for drink driving

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's test captain Dimuth Karunaratne was arrested on Sunday for drink driving after an accident injured at least one person near the main hospital in capital Colombo, a police spokesman said.

"He was arrested early this morning for drinking and driving after the vehicle driven by him hit a three wheeler and injured its driver," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters.

"He has been granted bail. He will be produced in the court tomorrow (Monday)."

Karunaratne, who has no history of disciplinary problems, or his lawyer was not immediately available for comments.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the incident and said it will follow due process in determining the future course of action.

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform that a road accident has occurred in the early hours of Sunday between a three-wheeler and a vehicle driven by national player Dimuth Karunaratne," the board said in a statement.

"Dimuth is undergoing due legal procedures with regard to the incident.

"In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket will also follow the due process as per his 'Player Contractual Obligation' with the organisation and conduct an inquiry in order to take necessary action."

Sri Lanka won a two-test series against South Africa last month under Karunaratne's captaincy to become the first Asian team to win a test series in the African nation.

The left-handed opening batsman has played 60 tests for the island team.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/31/sri-lanka-test-captain-karunaratne-arrested-for-drink-driving

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/vi32n2C33R">pic.twitter.com/vi32n2C33R</a></p>— Dimuth Karunaratne (@IamDimuth) <a href="https://twitter.com/IamDimuth/status/1112651515326455808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hasan123]

I think he may have thrown his chances away of being the captain for the WC.

 

[Rana]

Sri Lanka batsman Dimuth Karunaratne has been fined $7000 USD for violating his player contract for his involvement in an alcohol-related traffic accident.

Karunaratne had his driving licence suspended and was arrested and subsequently bailed following a crash involving a three-wheeler in Colombo. The driver of the three-wheeler sustained minor injuries, but has since been released from hospital.

Karunaratne later issued an apology. “I am very much aware that perhaps my actions were utterly unbecoming of a Sri Lankan national cricketer,” he said during a lengthy statement.

Apart from the fine, Sri Lanka Cricket will take no further action against him.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1155226

 

[MenInG]

A captain's innings if there ever was one!

Joins a select group of 4 SL openers to have scored a 4th inning hundred.

A brilliant sportsman and a proud skipper of Sri Lanka.

 

[MenInG]

Dimuth Karunaratne has become the 10th Sri Lanka batsman to score 5000 runs in Test cricket and the fourth fastest to do so in terms of matches played. Take a look at the exclusive group he has joined.


Dimuth Karunaratne
5000* runs at 37.88
5000th run in his 72nd Test and 138th innings

The newest member in Sri Lanka’s 5000 Test-run club, Karunaratne crossed the milestone in Sri Lanka’s first innings of the second match against Bangladesh.

Having only celebrated his 33rd birthday in March, Karunaratne is Sri Lanka’s 10th highest run-scorer in the format and still has time to climb that ladder.

The left-hander looks good value to do just that considering he scored a double-century in the first Test against Bangladesh. He has 11 centuries to date and is enjoying one of the finest calendar years of his career.

Arjuna Ranatunga
5105 runs at 35.69
5000th run in his 92nd Test and 153rd innings

One of the nation’s most iconic players, an 18-year-old Ranatunga made his debut in Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test in 1982. He notched Sri Lanka’s first Test half-century in that match. More than 18 years later he raised his 5000th run for the country in Test cricket in his penultimate match for Sri Lanka.

Among the greatest contributors to Sri Lankan cricket ever, Ranatunga famously captained the team to a stunning ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996.

Thilan Samaraweera
5462 runs at 48.76
5000th run in 71st Test and 114th innings

Solid as a rock, Samaraweera was the glue in a Sri Lankan batting order boasting some of the most stylish players in the game, while still having plenty of glorious strokes in his own arsenal. A century-maker on debut against India, Samaraweera went on to hit 14 hundreds in the format, with a high score of 231.

The right-hander raced to 5000 Test runs in fewer matches than any Sri Lankan bar Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Tillakaratne Dilshan
5492 runs at 40.98
5000th runs in his 81st Test and 132nd innings

A middle-order batter when he was first picked in the team, Dilshan looked the part early in his career, scoring an impressive 163 in just his second match. But it was not until he was promoted to the top of the order that Dilshan’s career really took off. He averaged 44.29 across his 53 innings opening the batting and allowed Sri Lanka to put opposition attacks under pressure from ball one. All that and he was an exceptional fielder and more than handy bowler too.

Marvan Atapattu
5502 runs at 39.02
5000th run in his 80th Test and 138th innings

One half of Sri Lanka’s most fruitful opening pair, Atapattu was the ice to Sanath Jayasuriya’s fire, wearing opposition attacks down from one end while his partner flayed them from the other. The old-school opener was one of cricket’s great converters, turning 16 of his 33 50+ scores into hundreds, and six of those 16 centuries into doubles.

Angelo Mathews
6219* runs at 45.39
5000th run in his 75th Test and 133rd innings

Up until Karunaratne’s entry, Mathews was the most recent Sri Lankan to join the 5000 Test run club, getting there in mid-2018. As reliable a servant to the game as any who has ever represented the island nation, Mathews started his career as the complete all-rounder in 2008. While a run of injuries has stymied his bowling over the past few years, he remains a lock in Sri Lanka’s XI.

Already the fifth-highest run-scorer in Sri Lanka’s Test history with an average that currently sits fourth among them, he already stands as one of the nation’s finest ever performers.


Aravinda de Silva
6361 runs at 42.97
5000th run in his 74th Test and 128th innings

The hero of Sri Lanka’s glorious victory in the 1996 World Cup final, de Silva was one of the gems of the country’s Test batting order for nearly two decades. With a technique that could stand up to the sternest of examinations, he scored 20 centuries and 22 fifties across his 93 Tests.

The dashing star was the first Sri Lankan to ever score 5000 runs.

Sanath Jayasuriya
6973 runs at 40.07
5000th run in his 79th Test and 133rd innings

Before there was Steve Smith there was Sanath Jayasuriya – a player picked as a bowling all-rounder who would go on to become a batting great. One of the stars of the ‘96 World Cup, Jayasuriya took his Test cricket to the next level in the years that followed as Sri Lanka established themselves as a force to be reckoned with across formats.

His incredible 340 off 578 against India in 1997 was Sri Lanka’s first Test triple-century and it remains the second-highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman.

Mahela Jayawardene
11,814 runs at 49.84
5000th run in his 70th Test and 114th innings

A modern giant of the game, Jayawardene is Test cricket’s ninth-highest run-scorer and joint sixth-greatest century-maker, well and truly justifying the clamour that surrounded him when he debuted as a 19-year-old.

A remarkable player of spin and more than adept against pace, Jayawardene scored runs all around the wicket and his combination with Kumar Sangakkara stands among the most reliable cricket has seen. Fittingly, the pair boasts the record for the biggest stand in Test history, putting on 624 runs against South Africa in Colombo.

That same innings saw Jayawardene score 374 runs – the fourth-highest score in Test history.

Kumar Sangakkara
12,400 runs at 57.40
5000th run in his 64th Test and 106th innings.

A member of the ICC’s Test Team of the Decade, Sangakkara stands among cricket’s finest ever players with a case to be considered the best batsman of his generation.

Across 134 Tests he scored 12,400 runs at 57.40, finishing his career as the format’s sixth greatest run-scorer with comfortably the best average of anyone who scored more than 10,000 runs. Those statistics are all the more remarkable when you consider he had to keep wickets in 48 Tests. He scored 9283 runs at 66.78 in Tests where he was not the designated keeper.

Sangakkara raced to 5000 runs in just 64 Tests and 106 innings – comfortably the fastest of any Sri Lankan.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2122197

 

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunatne is well and truly a man leading from the front in 2021.

Karunaratne notched his fourth Test century of the year on day one of the first match against West Indies, climbing to third for the most runs and second for most centuries in the format in 2021.

Karunaratne was unbeaten on 132 at stumps on day one, having put his side in a position of strength at 267/3.

Here, we look at the incredible 2021 Karunaratne has enjoyed.

With 756 runs to his name in Tests in 2021, Karunaratne is the third-highest run-scorer in the format this year.

He trails only England’s Joe Root (1455) and India’s Rohit Sharma (906).

However, it is worth noting Karunaratne is currently playing his sixth Test of 2021 and 10th innings. Root has played twice as many matches and 13 more innings, while Sharma has played 11 Tests and 21 innings.

While Karunaratne trails Root and Sharma for runs, he leaves both in the dust for average as things stand. The Sri Lankan star is averaging 84 this year, which is comfortably the best of the top 25 Test run-scorers.

Among the nine players to have made more than 500 Test runs this year, Root has the next best average of 66.13.

Alongside all men’s Test batters this year, Karunaratne’s average is the fifth-best.

Karunaratne recorded Test century No.4 for the year on Sunday against West Indies.

That’s four centuries made across just six matches.

Only Root with six has scored more hundreds this year and, as previously noted, the England skipper has played twice as many matches and 13 more innings than his Sri Lankan counterpart.

Pakistan’s Fawad Alam is the only other batter to have made at least three hundreds in Test cricket this year.

Given his numbers this year, it's no surprise that Karunaratne has been on a hot streak in Test cricket.

Having started 2021 with a Test century against South Africa at Johannesburg, Karunaratne notched scores of 12, 3 and 1 across his first three innings against West Indies in March, finding form in his final outing of the series with a patient 75.

He has not looked back since.

In the first Test against Bangladesh, he made a career-best 244 and backed that up in the second Test with contributions of 118 and 66.

Across his past five innings he has averaged 158.75 – a number that could go in either direction by the conclusion of his current knock of 132*.

 

[MenInG]

Batted through pain today in the 2nd innings

 

[FearlessRoar]

His dedication to the longer format of the game is truly commendable

 

[FearlessRoar]

Always steps up for Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne is all class

Is the southpaw one of the most underrated cricketers? What do you reckon?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Record Alert:

Dimuth Karunaratne becomes only the fourth Sri Lankan to score 7,000 Test runs, achieving this milestone during the second innings of the third Test against England.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dimuth to retire from cricket after completing 100 Tests

One of Sri Lanka’s most prolific opening batsmen and former Captain Dimuth Karunaratne will retire from cricket after playing his 100th Test match for his country in the second Warne-Murali Test, scheduled to commence at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Karunaratne, speaking exclusively to Daily FT, said that he plans to retire from all levels of cricket and migrate to Australia with his family next month. Karunaratne’s final match of his illustrious career will be for SSC against NCC in the SLC Major Club 3-Day Tournament from 14-16 February at the NCC Ground.

Karunaratne’s decision to retire comes from several reasons.

“It is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form. In the last 2-3 years after the WTC (World Test Championship) was introduced, we have been having very little bilateral series. My current form is another reason; completing my 100 Tests, the end of the WTC cycle (2023-25), I thought is the right time to retire.”

“I have some personal plans of my own. I’ve decided to retire after speaking to other senior players like Angie [Angelo Mathews] and Chandi [Dinesh Chandimal]. Rather than the three of us retiring at the same time, it will be better for us to go one by one. I thought I will retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target – 10,000 runs – with the lesser number of Tests being played. I am happy with what I have achieved so far. I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th Test.”

In 99 Tests, the 36-year-old left-hander has accumulated 7,172 runs at an average of just under 40 with 16 hundreds over a span of 13 years.

“Any cricketer’s dream is to play 100 Tests and score 10,000 runs. It’s a big achievement. When you start playing cricket, you don’t think of those targets, but when you continue playing, you come across different targets. One of them is to play 100 Tests and the other is to achieve 10,000 runs. But as Sri Lanka are playing less Test matches for a year, getting to 10,000 runs seems far away. Appearing in 100 Tests I feel is an achievement.”

“At the end of the day, after I have retired, I can look back and be satisfied that I had played 100 Tests for my country. Several players play Test cricket but only a handful are able to go and play 100 Tests. To become a member of that exclusive club I am very happy. To become Sri Lanka’s seventh cricketer to play in 100 Tests is also a happy moment.”

Karunaratne is not in the best of his form at the moment, but hopes that he can put it right in his 100th Test and make it a memorable farewell.

“I have not hit a bad patch for a long time. From 2016 till last year, I have been scoring consistently. I have been the leading run scorer or second leading run scorer. When you hit a rough patch, it’s something that you have not experienced before. I am struggling to come out of it at the moment. Along with that, you get negative thoughts; there is stress, panic sets in. All of them come with loss of form. If I get to the first 15-30 runs, I can go on from there. Why I am struggling is that I have been unable to get a start. If I can get a start in the next Test, I think I can convert it into a big one.”

Amongst the several milestones Karunaratne has achieved in his remarkable career, scoring a hundred in his 50th Test match is one. He made an undefeated 158 carrying his bat out against South Africa at Galle in 2018.

“Not only in my 100th Test, but I look forward to scoring a hundred in every game I play and contributing towards my team. It will be a great milestone if I can score a 100 in my 100th Test.”

SOURCE: https://www.ft.lk/sports/Dimuth-to-retire-from-cricket-after-completing-100-Tests/23-772613

 

[Markhor]

Just caught the news. One of those nuggety, traditional Test openers in the mould of a Dean Elgar that tends to go under the radar.

Big discrepancy between his home and away average so won't be mentioned amongst the greats.

That said it's a very hard era for Test openers, and he's guided Sri Lanka through some challenging times. I remember he was almost immovable from the crease in that 2017 series where Sri Lanka ended our unbeaten UAE record.

Hope he goes well in retirement.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Smith lauds Karunaratne; focus remains on second Test over Champions Trophy

Ahead of the second Test in Galle, stand-in skipper Steve Smith discussed his captaincy and also lauded retiring Sri Lankan batter Dimuth Karunaratne.

Australia’s stand-in skipper Steve Smith praised Sri Lanka’s star opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who is set to retire after the second Test in Galle.

Smith acknowledged the 36-year-old as one of the best opening batters in modern times.

“Yeah, he's had a really good career up top there for Sri Lanka, playing his 100th game as well," Smith said. "So, yeah, I think there's a bit of a ceremony tomorrow for him before the game. And he's been super consistent if not probably the most consistent top-order opening batsman for a long period of time.”

Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne will be playing his 100th and final Test match, having decided to retire following a recent dip in form at the top of the order.

“He's had a wonderful career. But, yeah, hopefully, we can keep him quiet in his last game.”

Australia captain Pat Cummins, who missed the Sri Lanka tour due to injury and paternity leave, praised Smith’s captaincy, even calling him a genius for some of the decisions he made on this tour. Smith was delighted to receive the praise from his skipper and looked forward to securing another win and sealing the series.

“That's nice of him," Smith added. "I love captaining in these conditions. I understand the game well and the angles that need to be created and, you know, just moving the chess pieces around the board. It's good fun and, yeah, I've enjoyed it so far. So, hopefully another good week.

Steve Smith may have to continue to don the captain's role for Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on 19 February, as Cummins' lingering injury raises doubts about his availability for the tournament.

“I actually haven't really given it too much thought. I think we'll wait and see what happens with that squad and then sum it up from there. We've got to get through this Test match and we want to win here first of all.”

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald mentioned Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential leadership options, with Pat Cummins yet to resume any form of bowling. With the February 12 deadline for injury replacements approaching, Cummins’ chances of regaining full fitness in time to rejoin the team appear uncertain.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.

“I actually haven't really given it too much thought. I think we'll wait and see what happens with that squad and then sum it up from there. We've got to get through this Test match and we want to win here first of all.”

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald mentioned Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential leadership options, with Pat Cummins yet to resume any form of bowling. With the February 12 deadline for injury replacements approaching, Cummins’ chances of regaining full fitness in time to rejoin the team appear uncertain.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.

“I actually haven't really given it too much thought. I think we'll wait and see what happens with that squad and then sum it up from there. We've got to get through this Test match and we want to win here first of all.”

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald mentioned Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential leadership options, with Pat Cummins yet to resume any form of bowling. With the February 12 deadline for injury replacements approaching, Cummins’ chances of regaining full fitness in time to rejoin the team appear uncertain.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.

“I actually haven't really given it too much thought. I think we'll wait and see what happens with that squad and then sum it up from there. We've got to get through this Test match and we want to win here first of all.”

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald mentioned Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential leadership options, with Pat Cummins yet to resume any form of bowling. With the February 12 deadline for injury replacements approaching, Cummins’ chances of regaining full fitness in time to rejoin the team appear uncertain.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.

Smith lauds Karunaratne; focus remains on second Test over Champions Trophy

Ahead of the second Test in Galle, stand-in skipper Steve Smith discussed his captaincy and also lauded retiring Sri Lankan batter Dimuth Karunaratne.

www.icc-cricket.com

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/sm...-remains-on-second-test-over-champions-trophy

 

[BouncerGuy]

The last test of his career has started.

How many runs is he gonna score in his final test???

Might score a century

 

[BouncerGuy]

Scored 36 in the 1st inning of his final Test match fo the career.... Could not do much here.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Dimuth Karunaratne has officially retired from international cricket after the second Test against Australia, which ended in a loss for Sri Lanka. He had announced his retirement after the match, ending his long and successful career as Sri Lanka's opening batter. With the second Test now finished, Karunaratne's retirement marks the end of an important era for Sri Lankan cricket.

What will Karunaratne's absence mean for Sri Lanka's future in Test cricket as an opening batter?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Dimuth Karunaratne has officially retired from international cricket after the second Test against Australia, which ended in a loss for Sri Lanka. He had announced his retirement after the match, ending his long and successful career as Sri Lanka's opening batter. With the second Test now finished, Karunaratne's retirement marks the end of an important era for Sri Lankan cricket.

What will Karunaratne's absence mean for Sri Lanka's future in Test cricket as an opening batter?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1888494644474126400

 

[FearlessRoar]

Dimuth Karunaratne, speaking to broadcasters after the conclusion of the Test series against Australia, became emotional during his retirement speech:

"Yes I am (emotional). It's a long career. I was spending so much time with my friends, so I'm emotional leaving them. But wherever I go, I will always be supporting them. When I started to play Test cricket, that was my one goal to play 100 Tests and scoring 10000 runs. I'm happy the way I am today. Want to thank everyone who supported me in my career."

"Going to Australia now to learn those coaching levels. Want to stay with my family - have missed spending a lot of time with them. Would like to thank all the fans who supported me whether I was doing well or not. My teammates - happy faces all the time. This is cricket - you have to go one day. This is the time for me."