Opinion: Are Sri Lanka Deprived of Test Cricket?

Sri Lanka cricket team have rather little history in comparison to the majority of men’s test cricket teams of today. On the brink of the 40 year anniversary of their first test match against England back in February 1982, here is a consideration reviewing the limited test cricket played by the fully established world number seven side.

With test match series’ becoming consistently shorter for the vast majority of the 12 full member nations, Sri Lanka are one of the largest sufferers with their past record to be accounted for.

Although they no longer have the golden era players of Muralitharan, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Vaas to name a few, the Sri Lankan’s have proved to be a threatening force still, particularly in home conditions.

Across the whole of 2021, Sri lanka played just nine test matches, all in series of two test matches (one being crossed over from late 2020 into January 2021). Of these nine matches, Sri Lanka played against West Indies four times and Bangladesh twice, both countries which are lower ranked. Rewinding close to 25 years, Sri Lanka played 13 tests between March 1997 and 1998, although largely unsuccessful in results there was a significant difference to today in the nations which they came up against on a frequency basis.

With the promising prospects of Lasith Embuldeniya who showcased his repeatable ability against England in a series loss last January along with impressive career starting performances later in the year from Ramesh Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Praveen Jayawickrama, Sri Lankan fans certainly have a case for disappointment in their test schedules.

The underrated opening batter Dimuth Kurunaratne named in the ICC team of the year for 2021 also shows promising signs for what the team are capable of- as demonstrated when he posted 244 of the 648 run declaration total against Bangladesh.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s under-19 performances in the 2022 world cup has looked to be more promising signs for the future. After going undefeated in the group stage, their final fate is to be confirmed as they will play for fifth position following their win over the impressive South Africans. One 19-year-old in particular, Dunith Wellalage, looks destined for future stardom as he has so far taken 17 wickets in just five matches as well as a century and a half century to add to his list of achievements for the competition.

Overall, Sri Lanka’s 40 year test history has been one of ups and downs by all means but the positives are clear from the past and look to be renewed in years to come and these shortened test series’ and the oppositions which Sri Lanka play the most often would need changing for their deprivation of consistency to change in the longest format.