Sri Lanka Faces Test Cricket Drought as World Championship Cycle Begins

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — As Sri Lanka gears up for its upcoming Test series, concerns about the country’s diminishing opportunities in Test cricket have come to the forefront. The team is set to compete in just four Tests in 2025, marking its lowest annual total since 2013, excluding the Covid-19 disrupted year of 2020.

Former captain Angelo Mathews expressed his dismay ahead of his final Test match, calling attention to the imbalance within international cricket schedules. ‘I think it’s quite sad to be honest,’ he said. ‘The younger generation are urging for more Test cricket. Test cricket is obviously the pinnacle of cricket. We all should push for more Tests.’

In contrast, Australia, India, and England will each play at least 18 Tests in the same cycle. Sri Lanka, however, is slated for just 12 matches over the next two years, highlighted by six two-Test series, tied with Bangladesh for the least in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

‘We can play, and we should play more,’ Mathews asserted. ‘We have won World Cups and done so much for cricket as a nation.’

Current Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva echoed Mathews’ sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of winning home series to gather WTC points. ‘We know we have to win our home series. We need to pick up all those points,’ he stated as they prepare for their first Test. Sri Lanka’s recent defeats have also added pressure, as the team lost all four of its last Tests against South Africa and Australia.

The upcoming Test series marks a significant moment for Mathews, who mentioned his retirement was influenced by the sparse schedule. ‘After this, we’ll be having our next assignment in Test cricket after a year’s time, that is a very long wait,’ he explained.

Despite the limited schedule, the new cycle presents an opportunity for fresh talent, as the squad includes several young players. De Silva remains hopeful about adapting and improving, stating, ‘Our job as professionals is to adapt to any situation.’

As the cricket world looks on, the challenge for Sri Lanka will be navigating this lean phase and striving for a stronger presence in Test cricket moving forward.