Angelo Mathews

Sri Lankan cricketer and former captain, known for his all-round abilities and leadership during Sri Lanka's transitional period in international cricket.

Born in Colombo on June 2, 1987, Angelo Davis Mathews emerged from Sri Lankan cricket's youth system as a genuine all-rounder, combining solid batting technique with useful medium-pace bowling. His father's involvement in cricket administration provided early exposure to the sport's highest levels, while his formative years at Royal College Colombo established the foundation for his disciplined approach to batting. Mathews made his international debut across all formats between 2008 and 2009, quickly establishing himself as Sri Lanka's premier middle-order batsman. His breakthrough came during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, where his crucial contributions helped Sri Lanka reach the final on home soil. The peak years of his career spanned from 2013 to 2016, during which he captained the national team across all formats while maintaining consistent batting performances. His captaincy coincided with a transitional period for Sri Lankan cricket, as the team adapted to life after legendary players like Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. As a Test batsman, Mathews has scored over 4,000 runs with multiple centuries, often anchoring Sri Lanka's innings in challenging conditions. His technique against both pace and spin bowling made him particularly valuable on subcontinental pitches. In limited-overs cricket, he served as a finisher and partnership builder, accumulating over 5,000 ODI runs. His all-round capabilities included more than 100 international wickets across formats. Mathews achieved unwanted cricket history in 2023 when he became the first player dismissed "timed out" in Test cricket during a match against Bangladesh in Delhi. Mathews represents the backbone of Sri Lankan cricket during its post-golden era phase, providing stability and experience as younger players developed around him. His longevity and consistency across formats have made him one of Sri Lanka's most reliable performers in international cricket over the past decade and a half.

Right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, known for his calm temperament and ability to perform under pressure

One of Sri Lanka's finest all-rounders and a successful captain who led the team through a transitional period

• ICC T20 World Cup 2014