Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana announced his retirement from international cricket after missing out on selection to the training squad for next month's tour of New Zealand.
The 34-year-old was widely respected for his cavalier batting style, especially during Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup triumph when he teamed up with Sanath Jayasuriya in famous pinch-hitting assaults to lay the platform for many of the team's victories.
A look at the facts and figures of the diminutive batsman:
Full name: Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana
Born: 24th November 1969, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Batting: Right-hand batsman
Other: Wicketkeeper
Teams: Sri Lanka (Test: 1992/93-2004/05); Sri Lanka (ODI: 1990/91-2003/04); Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club (Main FC: 1993/94); Galle Cricket Club (Main FC: 1994/95); Colts Cricket Club (Main FC: 1996/97-2004/05)Test debut: v Australia, Colombo SSC, 1992-93
ODI debut: v India, Margao, 1990-91
Career Highlights:
- Scored a century on Test debut (132 not out v Australia at Colombo, SSC in 1992-93) which is also the highest by a debutant at # 7 in Test cricket
- Was never dismissed for duck in his 28 Test innings on home soil -- most by any batsman
- Only Sri Lankan batsman to be dismissed twice without facing a ball in ODIs.
- His 75 stumpings are the most by any wicketkeeper in ODIs
- First wicketkeeper to effect three stumpings in an ODI on two occasions
- Only wicketkeeper not to concede a single bye in opposition's total of 350 or more in ODIs. India's total of 373 for 6 at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup is still the highest total in ODI history without a bye.
- Was a part of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan team
A look at the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper's career:
Test career:
| Opponent | Mts | Inns | NO | Runs | Hs | Ave | 100 | 50 | 0 | Ct | St |
| Australia | 9 | 14 | 1 | 397 | 132* | 30.54 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 6 |
| England | 1 | 1 | - | 25 | 25 | 25.00 | - | - | - | 3 | 1 |
| India | 4 | 5 | 1 | 86 | 40 | 21.50 | - | - | - | 7 | 2 |
| New Zealand | 7 | 11 | - | 496 | 103 | 45.09 | 1 | 3 | - | 10 | 5 |
| Pakistan | 11 | 20 | 1 | 409 | 100 | 21.53 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
| South Africa | 6 | 11 | - | 185 | 45 | 16.82 | - | - | 1 | 17 | 4 |
| West Indies | 4 | 7 | - | 83 | 23 | 11.86 | - | - | - | 8 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 7 | 9 | 1 | 252 | 71 | 31.50 | - | 2 | - | 17 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 49 | 78 | 4 | 1933 | 132* | 26.12 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 93 | 26 |
ODI Career:
| Opponent | Mts | Inns | NO | Runs | Hs | Ave | 100 | 50 | 0 | Ct | St |
| Australia | 21 | 21 | 1 | 608 | 95 | 30.40 | - | 6 | 3 | 14 | 11 |
| Bangaldesh | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| England | 16 | 16 | 2 | 490 | 102 | 35.00 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| India | 32 | 30 | 2 | 482 | 53 | 17.21 | - | 1 | 5 | 23 | 7 |
| Kenya | 3 | 3 | 1 | 136 | 100* | 68.00 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 17 | 17 | - | 365 | 54 | 21.47 | - | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 |
| Pakistan | 43 | 40 | 1 | 623 | 75 | 15.97 | - | 3 | 5 | 32 | 22 |
| South Africa | 15 | 15 | 1 | 353 | 83 | 25.21 | - | 3 | - | 8 | 4 |
| West Indies | 22 | 21 | 3 | 374 | 54 | 20.78 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| Zimbabwe | 19 | 18 | 3 | 280 | 99 | 18.67 | - | 2 | 4 | 16 | 7 |
| TOTAL | 189 | 181 | 14 | 3711 | 102 | 22.22 | 2 | 23 | 24 | 132 | 75 |
