There was one moment in Rangana Herath's farewell press conference when he looked truly at ease.

It was not when he was cycling through the memories of Test wins. Nor when reminiscing over his part in the 2014 World T20 win - only Sri Lanka's second ICC tournament win after the famous 1996 World Cup. Even talking about his "second debut" in 2009, when drafted in from a stint of club cricket in England, he empathised with selectors that his absence from the international scene, which he entered in 1999, was the right call for the balance of the Sri Lankan team. Nope - none of them.

As the press conference came to an end, the 40-year-old was asked to pose in front of the backdrop he had his back to: a shot of him celebrating one of his 430 wickets with the caption "Thank you Rangana".

However, with the photographers assembled, Herath was distracted, first shaking hands with journalists, many of whom after more than a decade had become friends. Then, brilliantly, he started putting away the chairs that were used for the press conference.

A member of staff grabbed the chair off him - nicely, of course - and even then Herath stood by, in case it was too heavy. After carrying his country's attack for so long, what's a chair?

Sri Lanka have had a lot of practice saying good bye to greats, but something about Herath's imminent retirement feels more real. There are not many more amiable but wedded with a fighting spirit; Herath has become a role model in his home country and a cult hero the world over.

A debut in 1999 as a 21-year-old is not lost on him - "Only a few people get a chance to play (international cricket) at 21" - but it came early enough for to have had a couple of recalls before he was put back into the domestic pool and left to himself a decade ago. In 2009, he was without an SLC contract and making ends meet in the English summer by turning out for Moddershall Cricket Club in the Staffordshire Leagues. He wasn't much cop there, but a call-up out of the blue led to a man-of-the-match turn against Pakistan in July of that year in which he took 4 for 15 in the second innings of a Test at Galle to seal the game. One more at the same venue will see him become only the third player to have 100 Test victims at a single ground. You can see why he wants the final bookend of his career here.

He admits the knees are creaky and that 40 is no age for putting yourself about in the field. There are no regrets but there is a pragmatic view that, had he known then what he does now, things would be better. But again - no regrets.

"Looking back I feel that I could have done little bit more, but I am satisfied that I gave 100 percent." Disappointment in the 2011 World Cup and 2012 World T20 still sting, even with 2014's trophy.

Herath will join a very select group of players - a hall-of-famer who reminds you of someone you know. In Sri Lankan circles, that's an uncle. The one who buys all the best gifts, gives you your first taste of whisky and even comes to your aid when you least expect it.

Those limited edition Nikes? Never tried Chivas Regal? Need a spinner to fill the void left by Murali? Rangana maama has your back.

To some, therein lies the "mystery" usually associated with spinners in this part of the world. Here's a man with greys and a paunch somehow twisting the world's best in knots while bowling arguably the game's second-most mundane craft.

"He's just an orthodox left-arm spin!" bellowed commentator David Lloyd when Herath ransacked England's top and middle order - twice - for 12 wickets back in 2012 (the last time these sides met here). Even Sanjay Manjrekar sat down in February of this year, writing about how great numbers don't make great cricketers, and in a moment he may regret for the rest of his life, decided to press "SEND". Those numbers, by the way, are 430 wickets at an average of 27.95: 34 five-wicket hauls and nine match 10-fers.

Thanks to him, Sri Lanka's post-Murali days were nowhere near as dark as they could have been, as 205 dismissals helped contribute to 26 Test wins. He also has the most wickets on any bowler after the age of 33.

When asked how he did what he did - and did it so well - another player in his position might have hammed it up. Talked about the tricks and the prestige before showing you the rabbit was in the top hat the whole time.

"I don't see any rocket science (in it)," said Herath, matter-of-factly. "If you take the orthodox spinners what they have is that they are able to maintain the right length and right line. If you get to left-arm spinners there is natural variation." Ah yes - 430 Test wickets through natural variation. In that way that Simone Biles exploits the natural variations of gravity.

Of course, he might be saving the big reveal for after this 93rd and final Test. A proper Herath-at-Galle haul will see him jump to seventh on the all-time wicket-takers list, with Stuart Broad and Dale Steyn the only active bowlers in his vicinity. Only rain will prevent that being so.

One hopes Mother Nature has a word with whatever monstrosity is due to hit the area as the Test gets underway on Tuesday. If there are two things Herath would change about this swansong, it would be the weather and the fuss being made. While the forecast, day-to-day, has been relatively inconsistent, the signs on the roundabout outside and posters adorning the external and internal walls of the international stadium will be there come rain or shine.

There will be celebrations, but mostly there will be sadness. Test cricket is about to lose its last thread to the 1990s - a time when it seemed to matter most. And yes, life must go on. But Herath was a constant reminder that old values still bring out the best in the new world.

He signed off his press conference with a pre-prepared speech in which he thanked his wife, children, coaches, teachers, school friends, teammates, captains, selectors, cricket clubs, doctors, physics, trainers, the media and the fans. Within that was a call to support those who will carry on without him.

"Players will fail and I ask you to support them," he said, as he held back the tears to power through. Even in a moment that was unequivocally his, he did his bit for others.

Cricket / 430 wickets

The medieval cult hero of modern times

The medieval cult hero of modern times

The medieval cult hero of modern times