FIRST TIME in MORE THAN 20 YEARS: ICC Announce Extremely Rare Test Match Format For SL vs NZ Series

World Test Championship 2025: After the 2023 ODI World Cup and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, the focus of world cricket shifts to the purest and the longest format of the game, Test cricket. Australia are the reigning champions and the proud owners of the Test mace, and they have stiff competition from countries like India, South Africa, England and New Zealand to defend their crown. Recently Sri Lanka announced the schedule for next month's Test series against the Kiwis and it has a major twist to it.

Traditional Test Format Returns To Sri Lanka

India's neighbour, Sri Lanka will play a two-match Test series against New Zealand next month. These two Test matches are a part of the ongoing World Test Championship, whose final will be played next year. Interestingly, the opening Test between Lanka and New Zealand will be played across six days due to a political election in the island nation.

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The first Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test that starts on September 18, 2024 will have September 21 as the rest day. The decision has been taken due to the Presidential Election of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka'. This is the first occasion in more than 20 years in Sri Lanka that a Test match will be played across six days. The last time something on the same lines happened was in 2001 when Lanka took on Zimbabwe.

The most recent six-day Test match was played in 2008 in Dhaka when Bangladesh took on Sri Lanka due to a preliminary election.

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Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test Series Schedule

• September 18-23: First Test at Galle
• September 26-30: Second Test at Galle

Sri Lanka Gunning For Massive WTC Gains

Sri Lanka are currently touring England for a three match Test series. Sri Lanka have played 4 Test matches so far. They have won two matches and have lost as many. The Lankans are on the fourth spot with 50 PCT and the will want to better their standings after the SL vs NZ Test series.