Angelo Mathews is disappointed by Sri Lanka’s cricket schedule for 2025, which includes only four Test matches. The team will also play several ODIs and T20Is this year before a complete halt until January 2026. Sri Lanka’s low representation in Test matches raises concerns about their status in international cricket. Mathews has expressed his shock on social media regarding the limited opportunities in the Test format.
Angelo Mathews, the seasoned all-rounder for Sri Lanka, has expressed his dismay regarding the limited number of Test matches scheduled for his team in 2025. Mathews noted that following their previous match against South Africa in December, he was astonished to discover that Sri Lanka is slated to compete in only four Test matches this calendar year, with two of these games occurring against Australia at home prior to mid-February. In addition to the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup T20s, the team is scheduled to participate in 13 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 12 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) before resuming play in January 2026. The current Future Tours Program indicates that Sri Lanka’s Test match involvement for the year will conclude by June with two Tests against Bangladesh, which are part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka will have the lowest number of Tests within the upcoming cycle, with only eight additional matches planned for 2026 and 2027. In a post on social media, Mathews remarked, “Absolutely shocking to hear that Sri Lanka is only playing 4 Test matches this entire year, including the Aus Tests this month.” Mathews, who last represented Sri Lanka in ODIs during the 2023 World Cup and in T20s at the last T20 World Cup, is now primarily focused on Test cricket and has recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the third Sri Lankan to surpass 8000 Test runs. In the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, Sri Lanka has been assigned a total of 13 Test matches. From the 11 matches they have completed thus far, they have won five and currently sit fifth in the rankings. Only Bangladesh and South Africa have played a lesser number of Tests, while England, Australia, and India lead with the highest totals. Mathews’ remarks coincide with emerging discussions regarding the potential introduction of a two-tier Test system by cricket’s ‘Big 3’ and the ICC, which is being considered after the next World Test Championship cycle ends.
The international cricket calendar is prepared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) through its Future Tours Program, which outlines the schedules of international matches across all formats. The limited number of Test matches for Sri Lanka in 2025 is particularly significant given the team’s historical presence in the format. Test cricket, recognized as the highest standard of competition, is essential for maintaining a nation’s status in the sport. Sri Lanka has faced challenges in terms of both representation and performance in Test matches in recent years, resulting in a call for more equitable distribution of matches among competing nations. Furthermore, there are ongoing discussions among cricket’s governing bodies to reassess the structure of Test cricket, potentially leading to a two-tier system that could have profound implications for the medium-term future of the game.
In conclusion, Angelo Mathews’ reaction to Sri Lanka’s 2025 Test schedule highlights significant concerns regarding the team’s diminishing opportunities in the format. With only four Tests scheduled, and the likelihood of this trend continuing in the subsequent years, the need for a review of international cricket scheduling practices may become increasingly urgent. Mathews’ achievement of surpassing 8000 Test runs, although commendable, underscores the importance of facilitating more Test matches for teams like Sri Lanka to ensure their competitive viability on the global stage.
Original Source: www.dailymirror.lk
