The first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle will be a historic affair for a unique reason – a rest day on Saturday, September 21st. This break is not due to a weather interruption or a scheduling conflict, but rather, to accommodate Sri Lanka’s presidential elections. It’s the first time a Test match in Sri Lanka has been paused for a national election, transforming the match into a six-day affair instead of the standard five-day format.
While the Kiwi bowlers impressed on day three, with Will O’Rourke taking three wickets for 37 runs, Sri Lanka wrestled back control thanks to half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal. At the end of day three, Sri Lanka was comfortably ahead by 202 runs with six wickets in hand in their second innings. However, cricket will be paused on Saturday to allow Sri Lankan players to exercise their right to vote in their respective constituencies.
The country is gearing up for its presidential election, a pivotal moment following the economic turmoil of 2022, which led to widespread protests and the ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
This is not the first time cricket has been impacted by elections. In 2008, a Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was paused due to Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections. However, a rest day for elections has never occurred before in a Test match in Sri Lanka.
The only other instance of a rest day in a Test match in Sri Lanka was during Zimbabwe’s tour in 2001. That rest day, on December 30th, was due to Poya Day, a significant Buddhist holiday.
The current situation highlights the unique circumstances that can arise in the world of cricket, with national events sometimes taking precedence over the sport. It will be interesting to see how the rest day impacts the match and whether it gives Sri Lanka a crucial advantage as they seek a victory over New Zealand.
