Lanka's Nuwan Kulasekara bids adieu to Test cricket

Sri Lanka seamer Nuwan Kulasekara has announced his retirement from the Test cricket with immediate effect in order to focus on the shorter formats of the game.

The 33-year-old believes his retirement from the longest format of the game would help him to better prepare for one-day internationals and T20 cricket.

"I would like to retire from playing Test cricket with immediate effect. After much thought, I believe it is the right time to retire and I hope it will allow me to better prepare for ODI and T20 cricket, which I would like to continue playing for Sri Lanka subject to good performance and selection," Kulasekara said.

Kulasekara has appeared in 21 Tests for Lanka, having bagged a total of 48 wickets since his debut in April 2005, ESPNcricinfo reported.

His match-winning performance came during his side's Test match against Pakistan in Colombo in 2009, where he claimed two four-wicket haul to finish with a figure of eight for 58 in 28.4 overs.

Kulasekara, who has played a total of 173 ODIs and was ranked as the number one bowler in March 2009, played his last Test against England in June 2014 at the Lord's.