Cricket: Sanath Jayasuriya recalled for two games before retirement

Sri Lanka have sprung a surprise by recalling 41-year-old batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for part of the forthcoming limited-overs series against England before he retires from international cricket.

With fellow opener Upul Tharanga unavailable as he prepares to face a disciplinary panel following reports of a failed drugs test during the World Cup, Jayasuriya is back in the international fold for the first time since December 2009.

However, the left-hander will onely play in the Twenty20 match and one of the five one-day internationals.

Jayasuriya told reporters in Colombo yesterday: "I invited you not to share the happiness of my being selected to play for Sri Lanka again, but to announce my decision to end my international career of more than 20 years. I consider it a privilege to have represented Sri Lanka to bring glory to my country and the town of Matara where I come from. The selectors picked me for the whole series but it was my personal decision to retire midway."

Jayasuriya, who made his ODI debut in 1989, was originally included in a 16-man squad, despite not playing a limited-overs international for his country since December 2009, while he played his last Twenty20 match a year ago.

He was not included in Sri Lanka's World Cup squad and failed to secure a contract with a franchise in this year's Indian Premier League, leading many to believe he would not play international cricket again.

Jayasuriya's one-day international record is impressive - only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more runs than his 13,428 in ODI action, while he has taken 322 wickets with his left-arm spin.