Future Remains Uncertain For Sri Lanka In Test Cricket

If that’s the last image of Australia playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka, what an anti-climax.

Series between the countries had always been so lopsided in Australia to such degree that Sri Lanka have been effectively sidelined by an Australian governing body reticent to play those that struggle to be drawcards.

But contests in Sri Lanka have been compelling and noteworthy despite its low-key nature. There was Shane Warne’s breakout on the 1992 tour before Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie suffered a horrible collision in the outfield seven years ago. That 1999 series is less remembered for being just one of only two series defeats for Australia during Waugh’s dominant five-year captaincy tenure.

Australia swept Sri Lanka in 2004 largely thanks to a stirring comeback by Warne after a 12-month doping ban. Australia won in 2011 to start Michael Clarke’s captaincy reign before Sri Lanka won four of five matches across the 2016 and 2022 series.

But this two-series was a thorough mismatch with Sri Lanka suffering their biggest ever Test defeat in the opener before they were unable to capitalise on friendlier conditions having won the toss in a one-sided second Test match.

While Australia were brilliant, Sri Lanka were pitiful and it was hard to believe they were until recently in the frame to be part of the World Test Championship. It was their fourth straight Test defeat having recently been thrashed by South Africa, who will play Australia in June’s WTC final in London.

As the two-match series in Galle petered out, there was a feeling of nostalgia for some Australians – players, staff and reporters – who pondered whether this was the last Test tour for them in Sri Lanka, a popular outpost for merry fans as they dotted the terraces and outnumbered locals in the matches.

Test cricket might change dramatically soon. There is growing talk of a two-tier Test system with cricket’s financial powers Australia, India and England wanting to play each other more with series between them proving money-spinners.

Currently the WTC contains nine nations with the other three Full Member countries – Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan – effectively forced to play among themselves.

Two divisions, with the ‘Big Three’ countries of course pooled together, will give them more opportunities to play each other and more money to be made. Discussions have started, but if the power trio want it – especially almighty India – then it is likely to pass through an International Cricket Council now led by Jay Shah, the all-powerful Indian administrator.

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It’s a proposal that is not new, but the sticking point previously has been whether there would be a promotion and relegation second division.

“Promotion and relegation would have added to the commerciality of the ICC,” Cricket Ireland high performance boss Richard Holdsworth once told me. “We pushed hard for it because it would have given Tests context for us, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

“There needs to be ways at making it more commercially viable and attractive to broadcasters.”

There is still a lot to work out with discussions set for an ICC meeting in April. It is unknown if Sri Lanka would slide to a second division, but if that happened then tours from Australia and their peers are unlikely.

Which would be a great shame, especially for the many Australians who have made watching Test cricket in such fun and exotic surroundings part of their bucket list.