Ahead of his farewell Test, Angelo Mathews is expressing concern over the limited amount of Test cricket being played by countries outside India, England, and Australia. Sri Lanka is set to participate in merely four Test matches in 2025, marking their fewest in a calendar year since 2013, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020. The forthcoming 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle shows a worrying trend. While Australia, India, and England each played 19 Tests in the last cycle, South Africa, despite being champions, managed only 13.
In the upcoming WTC cycle, Australia is scheduled for 22 Tests, England for 21, and India for 18. Contrastingly, Sri Lanka will play just 12 Tests, tied with Bangladesh for the fewest, over six two-Test series. “I think it’s quite sad to be honest,” Mathews commented. “The younger generation is eager for more Test cricket. It’s the pinnacle of the sport. We’ve got to push for more matches. Teams like England, India, and Australia play over 15 Tests a year. Why can’t we? We’ve achieved so much, including winning World Cups. We deserve the chance to play more Test cricket.”
The issue isn’t new, but Mathews’ remarks are significant coming from a player with 118 Tests to his name. Even the timing of his retirement reflects the dearth of Test cricket for Sri Lanka. Although retiring was on the table for the 38-year-old, the decision to bow out after just one Test was influenced by the current schedule.
“I played my 100th Test in Galle, so it felt right to finish there,” Mathews explained. “But mainly, it’s because we don’t have many matches. After this, we don’t play Tests again for a year, which is a lengthy wait. I thought it best to give my replacement a chance in the second Test, as he won’t have another opportunity for a long time.”
Mathews’ words underscore the calls for more balanced scheduling in the WTC cycles, recognising the achievements of all cricketing nations and maintaining the sport’s rich legacy.
