A two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia is scheduled to be hosted at Galle. For both teams playing their final Test series of the WTC 2023–25 cycle, this will be a crucial test. In June, the Australian squad is already scheduled to play South Africa in the World Test Championship final.
The Sri Lankan squad is currently ranked fifth in the WTC rankings after having a few strong series throughout the season. With 11 games played, they have the fewest number of games among the other teams, having won five and lost six during the two-year cycle.
The scheduling of their games this season also caused problems for Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of Sri Lanka’s Test team.
Given their performances, he thinks their squad should have played more Test matches and still had hope of doing so.
To be honest, having only four Test matches is a huge disadvantage for a good Test cricketing nation like us, especially when our team is also a strong one. More fixtures than we now have is what I’m hoping for. Hopefully, there will be an open window for us to talk about the possibility of playing future Test series. I’m hoping Sri Lanka Cricket can put something together. “But all we can do is play good cricket in the matches we do get and control what we can,” De Silva stated.
“We had a strong team and were unlucky in a few games, but we were very close to making it to the WTC final. The two Test matches we lost against Pakistan [at the beginning of the cycle] were a significant setback. However, we must end the cycle on a high note. We’ll be happy if we can reach No. 3,” De Silva continued.
Sri Lanka Test squad against Australia: Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake.