Sri Lanka Captain Dhananjaya de Silva Disappointed with His Team's Limited Test Matches in WTC Cycle

The Sri Lanka Test team captain Dhananjaya de Silva aims to win back the Warne-Murali Trophy. During the press conference on Tuesday before the first Test match against Australia, Siliva expressed his disappointment with his team's limited Test cricket schedule. He called it a "big disadvantage" and urged that more test matches be scheduled for them.

The Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia will kick off on January 29 at Galle. Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the Sri Lanka team and the Australian team will led by Steven Smith. The regular skipper of Australia Pat Cummins is not playing this Test series because he awaits the birth of his second child. 

Fewer Test Matches a Challenge for Sri Lanka

This Series will be the last ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. After this Sri Lanka has only two home Tests against Bangladesh in 2025. In the upcoming WTC 2025-27 cycle, Sri Lanka has only 12 Tests scheduled which means six games per year. Sri Lanka captain Silva felt this created a big disadvantage for his team.

ALSO READ: IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal Confirms Start Date for IPL 2025, Says No Major Rule Changes

In 2016 Sri Lanka dominated Australia 3-0. But in their last series in 2022 against Australia has ended with a 1-1 draw where both matches played in Galle.

Dhananjaya said at the press conference before the first Test match. “It's really disappointing, as a good Test cricketing country, to have only four Tests, Honestly, it is a big disadvantage, especially considering ours is a good side, as well. I'm hoping we can get more fixtures than we have. We're hoping to discuss the opportunity to play more Test series and hopefully, we get an open window for that."

Also, Silva mentioned the historic win against Australia in 2016. And now de Silva assured that his team is determined to win the trophy again after nine years in the prestigious Test series and to finish their WTC standings in third place if they win 2-0.

Silva said: "The last time we won the Warne-Murali Trophy was in 2016, which was also my debut series. A lot of players from that campaign are still in the mix and we believe we have what it takes to repeat history, Another incentive for us is the chance to finish third in the WTC standings if we win 2-0. That would be a tremendous achievement."

Sri Lanka Test squad against Australia:

Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake, Sonal Dinusha.

ALSO READ: PCB to Announce Squads for Tri-Nation Series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Early February