Michael Clarke to retire from Test cricket after Oval Test

The legendary Australian player and captain Michael Clarke has announced that he will retire at the end of the ongoing Ashes series. Australia has already lost the series against England by 1-3 on third day of the 4th Test.

Clarke was reportedly not in the mood of retiring until the Trent Bridge Test, where his team lost the match by an innings and thus, adding one more to the consecutive series loss in England.

34-year-old Clarke has been playing Test cricket for past 11 years and believes that he was physically and mentally exhausted by now and should leave when it is time. Clarke himself confirmed the news soon after his team lost their 3th Test in the ongoing series. This was Australia's first loss by an innings against England in 30 years.

"The boys have worked hard, I don't blame anyone in that change room. As a team we haven't performed as well as we needed to be beat England, and as a captain I certainly haven't led from the front."

Michael Clarke will play the final Test match of the series as Captain against England at the Oval in London. The current Ashes series has not done any good for Clarke and he is now at his all-time lowest Ashes average of 16.71. He indicated that it is time for him to move on and make place for someone better. Former England captain Michael Vaughan supported Clarke's decision saying that he was not surprised with the decision.

Clarke has scored 8605 runs in his career that include 28 centuries and 27 half centuries. A big applause for one of the best Cricket players of all-time.

Sangakkara announces retirement from Test after India Series

The legendary Sri Lankan player Kumar Sangakkara has announced that he would retire from Test cricket after the second Test match of India-Sri Lanka Test series scheduled in August 2015. He will also not play the third Test match of the ongoing Pakistan Test series and the two Test matches against India would be his last. Sangakkara is already retired from ODI format of Cricket.

Breaking the long silence about the rumors of retirement, the Sri Lankan player confirmed the news in a special press conference held after the third day's play of the second Test of Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2015. Sangakkara also mentioned that he was intended to retire from all forms of cricket after the 2015 Cricket World Cup, but was convinced to play 4 more Test matches by the Sri Lanka's previous selection committee.

"I've had the time of my life playing for Sri Lanka. It has been a great honour. Growing up as a kid, watching players like Aravinda de Silva play for Sri Lanka and then one day to get a chance to play with them. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing every format, but donning the whites for Sri Lanka has been a different feeling altogether. There have been so many ups and downs. I've had bad days as well but the good times outweigh the bad. I know, it's disappointing to say goodbye to something you've done for over 15 years, but I know this is the right time to leave," Sangakkara said.

Sangakkara has been one of the best ODI & Test players of all-time. He currently holds the third position in the ICC Test Batsmen Ranking and second in the ICC ODI Batsmen Ranking. His list of records is quite  long. He debuted his Test career in 2000 and in just 15 years, he managed to score 12271 Test runs, which is also the fifth-highest of all-time in Test cricket format.

The 37-years old Sri Lankan player hit 38 Test centuries that include 11 double-centuries, just one behind Sir Don Bradman's record of 12.

Sangakkara, during the announcement, indicated that he never played for personal records, but always for the country. "If that (personal milestones) is the only driving ambition, then it is time to say 'thank you very much'. I've prided myself in doing well individually, but I should be able to look at my teammates in the eye and say I really went out there for the country and not individual records."

We wish the great player Kumar Sangakkara a very well and successful future ahead.