Sri Lanka to lock horns with New Zealand with a rest day amidst presidential election

This Test series will mark the first time in over a decade that a match includes a rest day and the first in Sri Lanka since 2001. Rest days were once a regular feature of Test cricket, particularly in the 19th century in England on Sundays, before being terminated. There have been a few exceptions in recent years due to special circumstances like elections and religious observances. The last six-day Test with a rest day occurred in Dhaka in 2008 due to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

The final match of the series will also be played at Galle on September 26. New Zealand’s last tour of Sri Lanka was in August 2019, when it drew a two-match Test series with the hosts.

Sri Lanka is currently playing a three-match Test series against England. The Lankans will be hoping for a win in England to bolster their chances of qualifying for the WTC finals. Meanwhile, New Zealand is set for an extensive sub-continent tour facing Afghanistan in a one-off Test in the second week of September before travelling to Sri Lanka.  Currently, New Zealand is in third place in the WTC standings, with Sri Lanka in fourth.