Mahela Jayawardene to bid final goodbye to home ODIs against England

COLOMBO: Making it obvious that he will retire after the 2015 World Cup, former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene today revealed on social media that the seventh and final ODI against England tomorrow will be his last at home turf.

"Going for my last practice session with the boys at home Going to have some fun," the 37-year-old tweeted this morning.

His indication of retirement after the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand came just two days after his best friend and teammate Kumar Sangakkara bade farewell to his fans in Kandy the last time he was playing an ODI at his hometown.

In the post match press conference, Sangakkara said he was to retire after the World Cup.

Jayawardene, who retired from Test cricket in August, is to play in the seven match ODI series in New Zealand leading to the World Cup starting February 14.

Sangakkara however has not made his plans clear for his immediate Test future.

Jayawardene has just two half-centuries in the current series, having skipped the third game on account of his daughter's first birthday.

In the last game he opened the batting, a role he has been urging the selectors to grant him during the 50-over showpiece event.

Despite failing in the last ODI against England, Jayawardene has starred for Sri Lanka in the openers role.

He has led Sri Lanka from the front, scoring heavily at the openers position in the T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and at home ODIs in the past.