Is Test Cricket dying for smaller nations? Angelo Mathews’ explosive tweet raises concerns
Veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews has expressed dismay at Sri Lanka’s meagre Test cricket schedule, highlighting the concerning lack of matches for the national team. Taking to social media, Mathews tweeted, “Absolutely shocking to hear that Sri Lanka is only playing 4 Test matches this entire year including the Aus tests this month @ICC.”
The schedule for Sri Lanka paints a troubling picture for the future of Test cricket outside the dominant nations of India, Australia, and England. The year 2025 begins with a two-Test series against Australia. However, this is followed by a five-month gap before another two-Test series against Bangladesh. Beyond this, Sri Lanka’s next Test match is not scheduled until mid-2026—a 12-month gap that threatens player development and team cohesion.
The outlook for 2026 isn’t much brighter, with Sri Lanka playing just three series: two Tests each against the West Indies in June, India in August, and Pakistan between October and November. This totals only six Tests across the year, a far cry from the robust schedules enjoyed by cricket’s powerhouses.
2025-01-06
