NEW DELHI: Angelo Mathews has voiced his disappointment over the limited number of Test matches Sri Lanka are scheduled to play in the upcoming World Test Championship cycle. Sri Lanka are set to feature in six two-match series between 2025 and 2027 — the joint-lowest alongside Bangladesh.Mathews highlighted the contrast in schedules, noting that Australia, England, and India will play 22, 21, and 18 Tests respectively during the same period. Sri Lanka’s four-Test calendar in 2025 is their lowest annual tally, excluding the Covid-hit year of 2020, since 2013.“I think it’s quite sad, to be honest. I mean, the younger generation is urging for more Test cricket. Test cricket is obviously the pinnacle of cricket. We all should push for more Tests. These guys are so enthusiastic about Test cricket.“I feel there has to be a minimum of 10 matches at least [in a year]. Teams like England, India, or Australia are playing 15-plus games a year. Why can’t we play? We can. If we keep pushing, I mean, we have to. We have won World Cups. We have done so much for cricket as a nation, and we deserve to play Test cricket, just like Australia, India, and England,” Mathews told reporters.Mathews recently announced that he would retire from Test cricket following the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle.The 37-year-old, who made his debut at the same venue against Pakistan in 2009, has been a mainstay of the Sri Lankan side for over 15 years — contributing as a dependable all-rounder and a leader.With 8,167 runs in 118 matches, he ranks only behind Kumar Sangakkara (12,400) and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814) in Sri Lanka’s all-time Test run charts. He has also taken 33 wickets and is the second-highest run-scorer at Galle, with 2,206 runs in 33 matches at the venue.
Mathews will have the chance to add to those tallies in his 119th and final Test, which begins Tuesday against Bangladesh. He also captained Sri Lanka in 34 Tests between 2013 and 2017, securing 13 wins — the third-most by a Sri Lankan skipper.“I played my 100th Test in Galle, so I thought I’d say goodbye in Galle. But the main reason was that we don’t have any games coming up, at least for now. After this, we’ll be having our next assignment in Test cricket after a year’s time, that is a very long wait,” explained Mathews.
