Angelo Mathews Slams Sri Lanka’s Limited Test Schedule for 2025, Calls for Equality in Cricket
In a heartfelt appeal from New Delhi, Sri Lankan cricket stalwart Angelo Mathews has voiced his deep concern over the alarming scarcity of Test matches allocated to Sri Lanka in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle of 2025-2027. With only four Tests scheduled for 2025, Mathews questions why his nation, a former World Cup winner, is being sidelined compared to powerhouses like India, Australia, and England.
As Sri Lanka gears up for a mere six two-match series over the next two years—tying with Bangladesh for the lowest tally in the WTC—Mathews pointed out the stark disparity in scheduling. Giants like Australia (22 Tests), England (21 Tests), and India (18 Tests) dominate the calendar, leaving smaller cricketing nations struggling for equal opportunity. ‘Why can’t we play as many Tests as them? We have the talent, the history, and the passion,’ Mathews passionately argued during a press interaction.
The veteran all-rounder, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket following the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle, emphasized the importance of the longest format for the game’s future. ‘Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport. Our younger generation is hungry to play more of it. We must push for at least 10 Test matches a year to stay competitive and nurture talent,’ he urged. Mathews reminisced about Sri Lanka’s rich cricketing legacy, including their 1996 ODI World Cup triumph and consistent contributions to global cricket, asserting that his nation deserves a fair share of red-ball action.
Mathews’ frustration is compounded by the fact that Sri Lanka’s 2025 tally of four Tests is their lowest annual count since 2013, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020. With a long gap until their next Test assignment after the Bangladesh series, the 37-year-old chose Galle—where he debuted against Pakistan in 2009 and played his 100th Test—as the venue to bid farewell. ‘The wait for the next series is too long. I wanted to say goodbye at a place that holds so many memories,’ he reflected.
A titan of Sri Lankan cricket, Mathews boasts an illustrious career with 8,167 runs in 118 Tests, placing him third behind legends Kumar Sangakkara (12,400) and Mahela Jayawardene (11,814) on the all-time run-scoring list. His contributions at Galle are equally monumental, with 2,206 runs in 33 matches, making him the second-highest run-scorer at the iconic venue. Add to that 33 Test wickets and a captaincy record of 13 wins in 34 Tests—the third-best for a Sri Lankan skipper—and his legacy as a dependable leader and all-rounder is undeniable.
As Mathews prepares for his 119th and final Test against Bangladesh starting Tuesday, he leaves behind not just a treasure trove of records but also a burning question for cricket’s governing bodies. Will Sri Lanka, a nation with a storied cricketing past, be given the platform to shine equally in the Test arena? Only time—and the resolve of cricket administrators—will tell. For now, the cricketing world watches as one of its finest bids adieu, hoping his call for equality in cricket echoes loud and clear.