http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 to give up captaincy post-Australia series – Cricket News Update
Veteran http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Hobart.
"I took over the captaincy for 12 months and that ends after this series, so this will be my last. I hope I don't get any more http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SE-Marsh-c2470 calls from them," Jayawardene told reporters today.
The 35-year-old Jayawardene, who led the Islanders to the 50-overs World Cup final in 2007 before giving away the role in 2009, was reinstated as the national captain for a second term in January this year, after opening batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691’s leadership had proven unsuccessful.
Backing the national T20 skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 to replace him at the helm in the ODI and Test format as well, Jayawardene said that this was the right time to make the transition to a younger leader as the side was scheduled to play few high-profile series over the next twelve months.
"It's been great, I've enjoyed the last year and what I've achieved but we need to move on to a younger leader," said Jayawardene, a veteran of 135 Tests and 386 One Day Internationals.
"It's best that we get a new player in while the senior guys are still around so we can help him out in building a team."
"Angelo is the one everyone has earmarked, and I think he is good enough," added the prolific top order batsman.
Jayawardene had stepped down as the national T20 skipper earlier in October, after guiding the Islanders to the final of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 championship at home. Mathews was appointed as his successor in the shortest format of the game.
Jayawardene will, however, continue to be available for selection across all the three forms. The Colombo-born right-hander said that his decision to quit the role at the helm was largely borne from a desire to assist the 25-year-old Mathews is his first phase as captain.
The Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 are scheduled to play three Tests, five One Day Internationals and two T20s against the mighty Aussies during almost two-month long tour Down Under, which ends in Melbourne on January 28.
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