Sri Lanka announces Test series schedule against New Zealand

Sri Lanka has announced the schedule for their upcoming Test series against New Zealand, set to begin next month. The series, consisting of two Test matches, will be a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. The first Test will take place in Galle from September 18 to 23, and it will include a rest day on September 21 due to the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka.

This rest day marks a rare occurrence in modern Test cricket, as such breaks were more common in the past. The last time Sri Lanka scheduled a Test match with a rest day was over 20 years ago in 2001, during a match against Zimbabwe in Colombo. That break was due to Poya Day, a significant full moon day in the country.

The upcoming rest day in Galle will allow for a six-day Test match, something that was once a regular feature in Test cricket, especially in England, where matches often paused on Sundays. The most recent instance of a Test with a rest day occurred in Dhaka in 2008 when Bangladesh’s Test against Sri Lanka included a break due to a parliamentary election.

Both Test matches in this series will be held in Galle, with Sri Lanka and New Zealand currently in third and fourth place respectively on the World Test Championship standings.

Series schedule:
First Test: September 18-23, Galle
Second Test: September 26-30, Galle