• Darren Gough (England): The former England fast bowler retired from Test cricket in 2003 after conceding his then 32-year-old body, which has endured three operations in two years, "was in bits". He continued playing limited-overs cricket until 2006. The National
    Darren Gough (England): The former England fast bowler retired from Test cricket in 2003 after conceding his then 32-year-old body, which has endured three operations in two years, "was in bits". He continued playing limited-overs cricket until 2006. The National
  • Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): The batting all-rounder retired from Tests in 2007, ending hours of speculation after a newspaper reported that selectors gave him the option of playing a farewell Test and then quitting rather than being dropped. He played limited-overs cricket for another four years. AFP
    Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): The batting all-rounder retired from Tests in 2007, ending hours of speculation after a newspaper reported that selectors gave him the option of playing a farewell Test and then quitting rather than being dropped. He played limited-overs cricket for another four years. AFP
  • Shahid Afridi (Pakistan): Another big-hitting batting all-rounder to quit five-day cricket before he did limited-overs, Afridi shocked the world in 2010 when he said: "With my temperament I can't play Test cricket. It is better a youngster comes in my place, probably a genuine batsman or even a genuine bowler." Afridi continued to represent Pakistan in ODIs until 2015 and T20Is until last year. AFP
    Shahid Afridi (Pakistan): Another big-hitting batting all-rounder to quit five-day cricket before he did limited-overs, Afridi shocked the world in 2010 when he said: "With my temperament I can't play Test cricket. It is better a youngster comes in my place, probably a genuine batsman or even a genuine bowler." Afridi continued to represent Pakistan in ODIs until 2015 and T20Is until last year. AFP
  • Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): The one-of-a-kind paceman, popularly known as 'Slinga Malinga' for his slingy bowling action, said in 2010 his knee could stand up to limited-overs matches, but could not cope with Tests. He retired from ODIs on Saturday and will likely play T20Is until 2020. AFP
    Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): The one-of-a-kind paceman, popularly known as 'Slinga Malinga' for his slingy bowling action, said in 2010 his knee could stand up to limited-overs matches, but could not cope with Tests. He retired from ODIs on Saturday and will likely play T20Is until 2020. AFP
  • Chris Gayle (West Indies): The opening batsman recently claimed he had not formally retired from Test cricket, although the last time he played the longest format was way back in 2014. He has played plenty of limited-overs cricket, both for West Indies and in several leagues around the world, and seems to want to give Tests another go. AFP
    Chris Gayle (West Indies): The opening batsman recently claimed he had not formally retired from Test cricket, although the last time he played the longest format was way back in 2014. He has played plenty of limited-overs cricket, both for West Indies and in several leagues around the world, and seems to want to give Tests another go. AFP
  • MS Dhoni (India): The World Cup-winning captain made a surprise decision to quit Test cricket before the end of their away series against Australia in 2014. The wicketkeeper-batsman continues to play limited-overs cricket, including two World Cups. AFP
    MS Dhoni (India): The World Cup-winning captain made a surprise decision to quit Test cricket before the end of their away series against Australia in 2014. The wicketkeeper-batsman continues to play limited-overs cricket, including two World Cups. AFP
  • Nuwan Kulasekara (Sri Lanka): The bowling all-rounder, who recently retired from all forms of international cricket, quit Tests in 2016 - two years after playing his last five-day match - so he could "better prepare for ODIs and T20s". But as it turns out, he could only extend his limited-overs career to the middle of 2017 as he was dropped thereafter. AFP
    Nuwan Kulasekara (Sri Lanka): The bowling all-rounder, who recently retired from all forms of international cricket, quit Tests in 2016 - two years after playing his last five-day match - so he could "better prepare for ODIs and T20s". But as it turns out, he could only extend his limited-overs career to the middle of 2017 as he was dropped thereafter. AFP
  • JP Duminy (South Africa): The batting all-rounder quit Tests in 2017 to prolong his limited-overs career, which he did, playing ODIs until the end of the Proteas' World Cup campaign this month. AP Photo
    JP Duminy (South Africa): The batting all-rounder quit Tests in 2017 to prolong his limited-overs career, which he did, playing ODIs until the end of the Proteas' World Cup campaign this month. AP Photo
  • Adil Rashid (England): This example is an odd one to use because within months of announcing his retirement from Tests in February 2018, the leg-spinner was picked to play in the summer home series against India. He once again finds himself on the sidelines, but, before he retired from Test cricket, he had played just 10 matches. He played another nine after making his announcement. Regardless, it is safe to say that he is doing very well in the limited-overs game at the moment. PA Wire
    Adil Rashid (England): This example is an odd one to use because within months of announcing his retirement from Tests in February 2018, the leg-spinner was picked to play in the summer home series against India. He once again finds himself on the sidelines, but, before he retired from Test cricket, he had played just 10 matches. He played another nine after making his announcement. Regardless, it is safe to say that he is doing very well in the limited-overs game at the moment. PA Wire
  • Mohammed Hafeez (Pakistan): The batting all-rounder played his last Test in Abu Dhabi last year in an effort to prolong his limited-overs career. AFP
    Mohammed Hafeez (Pakistan): The batting all-rounder played his last Test in Abu Dhabi last year in an effort to prolong his limited-overs career. AFP
  • Mohammed Amir (Pakistan): The fast bowler joined his national teammate in quitting Test cricket, but after the World Cup, with the idea of managing his fitness better by playing just limited-overs cricket. AP Photo
    Mohammed Amir (Pakistan): The fast bowler joined his national teammate in quitting Test cricket, but after the World Cup, with the idea of managing his fitness better by playing just limited-overs cricket. AP Photo

Cricket

Mohammed Amir's early Test retirement: MS Dhoni, Lasith Malinga, Shahid Afridi and others who made same call

Here is a list of cricketers who made the decision to quit the five-day game in order to extend their international careers

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Mohammed Amir has joined a host of international cricketers, some current and some former, to have made the decision to retire from Test cricket earlier than expected.

The reason behind Amir's decision, like in the case of most of the others before him, is to manage his workload and fitness better in order to prolong his limited-overs career.

There is possibly one exception in this list: Chris Gayle. The West Indian batsman, who claims never to have formally retired from the longest format in the game, last played a Test in 2014. Seeing as he has used the spare time to play in several leagues around the world as a "freelance cricketer", he is now tempted to make a comeback. Whether the 40-year-old will or not remains an interesting question.

To find out who else makes this list, browse through the photo gallery above.

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