The 40-year-old, a Test specialist since 2016, is the most prolific left-arm Test bowler in history, having taken 418 Test wickets. Herath believes it is may soon be time to step away from all formats of the game.

When asked about his retirement plans, Herath told BBC Sinhala that “Maybe my final series will be the England series later in the year”, before adding: “There comes a time for every cricketer when they have to stop playing. I think that time has come for me”.

Herath is currently recovering from split webbing in his hand but is expected to play against South Africa before what could be his final series against England. Provided he plays every Test for his homeland until then, he will finish with 95 Test caps.

Herath is the last remaining international cricketer to have played in the 1990s, having made his debut in September 1999. He blossomed with age, however, with more than 90 per cent of his wickets having come since he established himself as a major force in 2009.