Sri Lanka to play a rare 6-day Test in home series against New Zealand in September

Sri Lanka Cricket announced a unique two-match Test series against New Zealand set to begin next month. The news went viral for the inclusion of a rare six-day Test for the first match, scheduled for September 18 at the Galle International Stadium. The extended Test format includes a rest day on September 21 owing to the Presidential Election of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, marking the first time in over two decades that a six-day Test will be held in the country. The last 6-day Test was in 2001 during a match against Zimbabwe, where a rest day was observed for Poya Day, a traditional full moon holiday in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka to play a rare 6-day Test in home series against New Zealand in September

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently announced a schedule for their upcoming home Test series against New Zealand that includes a tradition from the past, a rest day during the first Test match. The schedule for the two-match Test series against New Zealand is set to begin next month. What makes this series interesting is the inclusion of a rest day during the 1st Test match in Galle, scheduled from September 18 to 23. The rest day, falling on September 21 is due to the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka.

A 6 DAY TEST MATCH NEXT MONTH...!!!

- Sri Lanka Vs New Zealand 1st Test will commence from 18th Sep to 23rd Sep, there'll be a rest day on 21st Sep due to Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/IStlsx2Zzy

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 23, 2024

Talking about the Cricket news, the tradition of Rest days in Test cricket was once common, especially in England, but has largely disappeared in recent years. The most recent 6-day Test was in 2008 during a Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka, where a rest day was observed due to a parliamentary election.

A rest day during the first #SLvNZ match 👀

Sri Lanka have confirmed the dates for hosting New Zealand for the #WTC25 Tests 👇https://t.co/l2IimGLqSy

— ICC (@ICC) August 23, 2024

 

The upcoming two-match Test series is particularly important as both Sri Lanka and New Zealand are looking to seal a final berth in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. Sri Lanka and New Zealand currently sit in third and fourth place respectively on the World Test Championship standings. The second Test is scheduled from September 26 to 30 at the iconic Galle International Stadium.