DDS calls for more Tests
After ending Sri Lanka’s Test assignments for the year with a crushing innings and 78-run victory over Bangladesh, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva calls for more Test matches to build on the recent improvements and mount a serious challenge in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
“Unfortunately, there are no international Tests,” the captain explained with visible disappointment on his face.
“We only have domestic matches. Right now there’s a one-day tournament, and after that there will be a three-day tournament. There’s also the National Super League. That’s how we’ll have to maintain our form.”
Sri Lanka’s international calendar for the year included just four Tests—two against Australia in January/February and the just-concluded two-match series against Bangladesh. Their next Test assignment will be against the West Indies in June/July 2026, exactly a year after the Bangladesh series. Even in 2026, Sri Lanka will play only six matches, also including two matches each against India and Pakistan.
The scarcity of Test cricket has become a growing concern, and the skipper said formal requests have been made to address the issue.
“We’ve made requests to Sri Lanka Cricket to play more Tests. I think they are talking about it with other teams. Even if we can play three or four extra Tests, we’ll be able to continue the goods we’re doing,” he said.
His plea comes a few days after Angelo Mathews, who has now retired from the longer format, made a similar appeal.
“I think it’s quite sad, to be honest,” Mathews said before his final appearance in Tests in Galle.
“I mean, the younger generation are urging for more Test cricket. Test cricket is obviously the pinnacle of cricket. We should all push for more Tests. These guys are so enthusiastic about Test cricket.
“I feel there has to be a minimum of 10 matches at least [in a year]. Teams like England, India or Australia are playing 15-plus games a year. Why can’t we play? We can. If we keep pushing—I mean, we have to. We have won World Cups. We have done so much for cricket as a nation, and we deserve to play Test cricket, just like Australia, India and England.”
Meanwhile, de Silva also expressed strong enthusiasm for the World Test Championship, praising its impact on the format’s competitiveness. “It’s a very good thing,” he said.
“We saw last time how well South Africa did and how they performed recently, and they deserved to win it. They hadn’t won an ICC trophy, and the Test Championship meant a lot to them. As a country, they can value that highly. It’s become a competitive trophy.”
The championship has changed how teams approach Test cricket, with Sri Lanka now factoring in various strategic elements.
“Even we’ve started thinking about our run rates in light of what’s happening. The Championship is a great thing for Test cricket,” de Silva observed.