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.