Mahela Jayawardene rules out politics and coaching

Colombo: Mahela Jayawardene, who retired from Test cricket today after a glorious Test career, ruled himself out from entering politics or seeking a coaching position with the national team.

"I haven`t got the patience required to do either of the jobs," he told reporters after Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the second and final Test - his farewell game. Jayawardene`s predecessors as national captains, Sanath Jayasuriya has entered politics and is currently a deputy minister while Marvan Atapattu holds the current Head Coach job. Jayawardene said his decision to retire from Test cricket was a well thought out decision. "I am not getting any younger so it was the right decision to be made. This will be the opportunity to build a new team with younger talent." Despite his retirement he was still under pressure from the hierarchy to come out of retirement and tour New Zealand in December for the Test series. "For 17 years my life has been one routine so there is a time you need a change," he said. Jayawardene, 37, played 149 Tests scoring 11814 runs with 34 centuries and 50 half centuries averaging 51.45.