Arnold to retire

Russel Arnold © Getty Images

Sri Lanka batsman Russel Arnold has announced he will retire from international cricket after Saturday’s World Cup final in Barbados.

The 33-year-old, part of the side that beat New Zealand by 81 runs in Tuesday’s semi-final in Jamaica, will contest his 180th one-day international this weekend.

Arnold needs to score 51 runs in his final international match to reach 4,000 ODI runs.

In Test cricket, Arnold averages a fraction under 45 with the bat, although he collected just 44 caps in the longer form of the game.

His last appearance in Test series was in the 2004 tour of Australia.

Sri Lanka media manager Samantha Algama said: “Russel has announced his retirement from international cricket.

“I can confirm it as the team manager, Mr Micheal Tissera, had informed Sri Lanka cricket about it.

“Russel had conveyed his decision to the manager during practice at Jamaica.”

Arnold made his ODI debut in November 1997 against South Africa in Lahore, a few months after he had made his Test debut against Pakistan in Colombo.

He is expected to continue playing domestic cricket for the Colombo-based Nondescript Cricket Club.