Sri Lanka and Ireland have met each other only in white ball contests

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play only five Tests for the year 2023 which sees the next fifty-over World Cup scheduled to take place in India in October, and also the Asia Cup in Pakistan preceding it.   

Of the five Tests, two are against New Zealand in March which will complete Sri Lanka’s cycle of matches in the ICC Test Championships.

Sri Lanka are currently placed third in the standings and need to win both Tests to be played in New Zealand if they are to progress further up the ladder and make it to the top two to qualify for the Test Championship final which is scheduled to be played at the Oval, London in June next year.

Australia and South Africa are currently the top two teams in the standings, with a host of teams on their trail, hoping to surpass them on the table. Australia has a points percentage of 75, followed by South Africa on 60%. Australia and South Africa will also clash against each other in a three-match series in the current cycle in December-January, which could have a big bearing on the final points table. 

Sri Lanka (53.33%), India (52.08%) and England (44.44%) round up the top five of the standings. With many series still to go in the current cycle, there could be many twists and turns in the points table before the two finalists are decided.

The year will also see the inaugural Test match between Sri Lanka and Test newcomers Ireland who are scheduled to make a short tour to the country in April. Ireland are due to play a one-off Test and two T20 Internationals.

The venues and dates have yet to be finalised, but there is a likelihood that all matches may take place in Colombo, if not, only the Test match in Galle and the white ball games in Colombo.

Ireland has played Sri Lanka only in white ball format – four ODIs and three T20Is, all of which they have lost. Since attaining Test status in June 2017, Ireland has played three Tests against Pakistan, Afghanistan and England and have lost all of them.

The only other Test series Sri Lanka will be involved in during 2023 according to the Future Tours Program (FTP) is when Pakistan make a tour here for two Tests in July. Pakistan made a short tour of Sri Lanka in July this year as well to play two Tests which was part of the ICC World Test Championships. The series ended in a one-all draw.

Other than these five Tests, Sri Lanka have a rather lean year whereas red ball cricket is concerned. It is a pity that Sri Lanka are not playing more Test matches, but have given more weightage to white ball cricket, which of course is a money-spinner compared to the established game. Cricket is not all about money, although you need it to sustain the game at all levels, but there should be a fair distribution of all three formats when drawing up international cricket fixtures. 

After all, we fought for 17 long years to achieve ICC Test status, and once that had been achieved, we have simply forgotten from where we first began. It is also hard and unfair on the players who play only Test cricket to keep themselves motivated throughout a year just to play five Test matches. It is simply not cricket.   

Like 2022 when the Asia Cup (played in T20I format) was followed by the T20 World Cup, 2023 will also see a similar practice with the Asia Cup to be played in ODI format (50 overs) in September in Pakistan and followed by the 50-over World Cup in India in October. Sri Lanka has six ODIs against India and New Zealand and the Asia Cup to prepare for the World Cup. They are also scheduled to play eight T20Is against India, New Zealand and Ireland during 2023. 

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