New ICC Test Championship cycle commences at Galle today

Bangladesh Captain Najmal Hossain Shanto and Sri Lanka Captain Dhananjaya de Silva with the LG Abans trophy that will be awarded to winner of two-Test series

• Can Sri Lanka mount challenge playing only 2 Tests a year?
• Lahiru Udara, Tharindu Rathnayake to make Test debut

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will commence their first series of a new ICC Test Championship cycle (2025-27), at the Galle International Cricket Stadium today with both teams keen to get the maximum points on the board.

Sri Lanka have come twice close to qualifying for the final but have failed to grasp the opportunities that have come their way due to the inconsistency in their cricket. They finished 7th in the inaugural series (2019-21), 5th in 2021-23 and 6th in 2023-25.

In Bangladesh’s case they have hardly proved a threat in the Test Championship finishing at the bottom of the standings in the first two years (2019-21 and 2021-23) and 7th in the recently concluded cycle (2023-25).

“We had a big chance to get to the final but unfortunately, we couldn’t do it,” said Sri Lanka Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva. “Even yesterday, when I talked to the boys, I reminded them where we could have been (at Lord’s this week), and where we ended up. As we start a new cycle, we know we have to win our home series. We need to pick up all those points. It’s a great opportunity to start a new cycle with a home series.” 

Although both teams look up keenly to the new Test series the big question where Sri Lanka is concerned is how they can mount a challenge in the WTC if only two Tests are going to be played for the entire year. The series against Bangladesh are the only Tests Sri Lanka have in the WTC (2025-27) cycle until next May when the next series is due to commence.

Sri Lanka Test Captain De Silva was mild-mannered in his reply when questioned about the paucity of Test matches for Sri Lanka.

“Our job as professionals is to adapt to any situation. We have to play the situations we’re given – we can’t blame anyone,” said De Silva. “Last year we got a few Tests, but this year we didn’t, and that’s not something that is in our hands. But we need to prepare for the situations that we do get. We’ve had a good NSL (National Super League 4-day) recently, and we’ve had good preparation through that. We’ve also identified a few good youngsters. We’re looking to embark on this next journey with them.” 

On the contrary Angelo Mathews who is retiring after the first Test was more to the point when he said the reason he was retiring was because Sri Lanka don’t have any Tests coming up for the rest of the year.

“After this series we will be having our next assignment in Test cricket in another year’s time. That’s a very long way. I thought it’s good to give an opportunity to whoever is going to replace me in the second Test match because he is not going to get another opportunity till next year. In that year you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

When questioned about the future of Sri Lanka’s younger generation of Test cricketers, Mathews said, “It is quite sad. To be honest this is the first time I am playing just 4 Tests for a year since 2009 (the year he made his Test debut). The younger generation is urging for more Test cricket. Test cricket is obviously the pinnacle of cricket. We all should push for more Test matches. These youngsters are so enthusiastic about Test cricket there has to be a minimum of at least 10 Tests for a year. Countries like Australia, England and India are playing 15 plus Tests for a year, why can’t we? We can if we keep pushing. We have done so much for cricket as a nation and we deserve to play Test cricket just like Australia, England and India.”   

De Silva said that they were unable to give Dimuth Karunaratne a proper farewell (with a win) but is determined to do so for Mathews. “The best thing we can do for Angelo is win the match for him and give him a good farewell. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that for Dimuth. Personally, I’m hoping we can do it for Angelo. He’s a big player for us, especially with the experience he has. But we do have other payers. We have some youngsters coming through, and some back-ups.” 

Sri Lanka will go with a two-two combination (two spinners, two seamers). Asitha Fernando and Milan Rathnayake will be the new ball bowlers with Prabath Jayasuriya and Tharindu Rathnayake as the two spinners. In the batting Lahiru Udara will be Pathum Nissanka’s opening partner replacing Oshada Fernando. Tharindu Rathnayake and Udara will be making their Test debuts.