Angelo Mathews Voices Concern Over Shrinking Test Calendar Ahead of His Farewell Match

As Angelo Mathews prepares to bid farewell to Test cricket, he has once again drawn attention to the growing imbalance in the global Test schedule, especially for nations outside the traditional powerhouses of India, England, and Australia. Sri Lanka is scheduled to play only four Tests in 2025 — their lowest tally in over a decade, barring the pandemic-hit 2020 season. In the broader context of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, the disparity becomes even more stark: while Australia, England, and India will each play between 18 to 22 Tests, Sri Lanka will feature in just 12, tied with Bangladesh for the fewest matches. Mathews, who has played 118 Tests, emphasized that the hunger for Test cricket still burns brightly among Sri Lanka's younger generation, and urged the ICC and cricket boards to ensure a minimum number of Tests for all nations to keep the format alive and fair. He lamented that while top-tier teams regularly play 15 or more Tests a year, other deserving nations are left on the margins despite their contributions to world cricket, including World Cup triumphs and historic series wins. Mathews' decision to retire after just one match in the ongoing series was also shaped by this scheduling void, as Sri Lanka's next Test assignment is nearly a year away. By stepping aside now, he hopes to give younger players a rare chance to gain valuable experience before the long wait for their next opportunity begins.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.