On August 23, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the schedule for their upcoming Test series against New Zealand at home starting next month. Sri Lanka and New Zealand will play two Test matches which are part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
In a historic twist for cricket, the SLC announced that the opening Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle starting on September 18 will be spanning six days. It is understood that the additional day is to accommodate a rest day due to the presidential election in Sri Lanka which is scheduled to be held on September 21. This will mark the first Test to feature a rest day since the match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2008, which included an extra due to the parliamentary elections.
“21st September will be a rest day of the 1st Test Match owing to the Presidential Election of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”, SLC mentioned in the media release.
Meanwhile, the last rest day in Sri Lanka occurred in December 2001 during a Test match against Zimbabwe. An additional day was given for the match as it was coinciding with a public holiday for a full moon in the predominantly Buddhist country. Notably, the rest days became a rarity in Test cricket. However, Sundays were traditionally set aside as rest days in Test matches in England, but this practice persisted till the 1990s before gradually disappearing.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have clashed in 38 Test matches to date, with the Kiwis holding the upper hand with 18 victories. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, won on only eight occasions and 11 games ended in draws. Both sides last clashed in a two-match Test series in March 2023, with New Zealand securing a 2-0 victory at home. In their previous tour to Sri Lanka in 2019, New Zealand drew the Test series 1-1 and won the T20Is 2-1.
New Zealand’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka follows a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida. Later this year, the Kiwis will play Test series against India and England. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will then return to New Zealand in late December for three T20Is and three ODIs. They are currently in England for a three-match Test series.
Series schedule:
First Test: September 18-23, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
Second Test: September 26-30, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
