Angelo Mathews has voiced his disappointment over Sri Lanka’s 2025 cricket schedule, which includes only four Test matches. Two Tests will be played against Australia, with the team also scheduled for numerous ODIs and T20s. This situation marks a significant reduction in Test match opportunities, as Sri Lanka is set to play the fewest Tests in the upcoming cycles. Mathews advocates for better representation in the longest format of the game.
Veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews has expressed his dismay regarding the upcoming cricket schedule for his national team in 2025, particularly the limited number of Test matches planned. Following his last appearance during Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in December, Mathews revealed his astonishment at the fact that his team is slated to play only four Test matches this year, two of which will occur in February against Australia on home soil.
Beyond the Test format, Sri Lanka will participate in 13 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 12 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) by November 2025, before resuming cricket in January 2026. The current Future Tours Program indicates that Sri Lanka’s Test schedule will conclude by June when they host Bangladesh for two Tests as part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. This marks Sri Lanka as the team with the least number of Tests in the next cycle, with only eight additional matches arranged for 2026 and 2027.
In a post on social media platform X, Mathews stated, “Absolutely shocking to hear that Sri Lanka is only playing 4 Test matches this entire year including the Aus Tests this month.” The experienced player, having recently become the third Sri Lankan batter to surpass 8000 Test runs, has been prominent in international cricket and only participated in limited formats recently, including the World Cup in 2023 and the T20 World Cup the previous year.
Presently, Sri Lanka has played 11 Tests in the ongoing 2023-25 edition of the World Test Championship, achieving five victories and placing fifth in the rankings. Notably, they rank alongside Bangladesh and South Africa as teams with the fewest Tests played thus far, whereas cricketing giants England, Australia, and India lead with 22, 19, and 19 matches, respectively. Mathews’ remarks coincide with reports suggesting professional cricket’s leading trio and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are contemplating a two-tier system for Test matches following the completion of the current World Test Championship cycle.
The scheduling of international cricket matches significantly impacts a nation’s representation and performance in the sport. For Sri Lanka, the 2025 cricket calendar illustrates a concerning trend, highlighting limited Test match opportunities compared to their counterparts. The Future Tours Program, which outlines international fixtures for member nations, reflects a strategic decision by cricket authorities that appears to favor the scheduling of shorter formats, raising questions about the long-term implications for traditional Test cricket, particularly for nations like Sri Lanka.
Angelo Mathews’ reaction to the 2025 cricket schedule underscores a growing concern among cricket enthusiasts regarding the diminishing focus on Test cricket for Sri Lanka. With only four Tests planned for the year, it is evident that the team faces challenges in maintaining competitive edge and performance in the traditional format. As discussions around a potential two-tier Test system circulate, the fate of smaller cricketing nations remains uncertain, raising awareness of the essential need for equitable match scheduling that supports all formats of the game.
Original Source: www.dailymirror.lk
