For the first time in 16 years, a Test match will feature a rest day. The ongoing first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle will have a break on what would have been the fourth day, to allow Sri Lankan players and officials to vote in the presidential elections on Saturday.
While the New Zealand players have the option to relax and explore Galle’s beaches, many Sri Lankan players will be traveling to their home electorates to cast their votes. For some, like Kamindu Mendis who is local to Galle, it’s a short trip, but others, like Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando, will travel significantly farther. The team has arranged transport for those heading to Colombo, with plans to return after voting on Saturday.
This election is of great importance for Sri Lanka, being the first major polls since the country’s political turmoil in 2022. While rescheduling the Test around the election might have been ideal, New Zealand’s packed schedule made it impossible.
Rest Day: A rarity in tests
Though rest days were once a regular part of Test cricket, they have mostly disappeared since the 1990s. However, this isn’t the first time a Test has paused for an election; Bangladesh also had a rest day in 2008 for their parliamentary elections during a match against Sri Lanka.
The game’s dynamics may shift slightly, as the pitch will be covered on the rest day to prevent further drying. However, the boards have squeezed the rest day from the gap between the first and second Tests, meaning there will now be only two free days between the matches.
With both Tests scheduled at Galle, there is no need for venue travel, keeping things manageable for the players despite the tight schedule.
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