Rest day returns to Test cricket after 16 years but only for a game

The rest day, which used to be a regular feature in Test matches till the last century is making a comeback in the series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka with the first game in Galle set to feature one due to an election.

“The first Test, which starts on September 18, will be played over six days, with a rest day scheduled for September 21 “owing to the Presidential Election of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”. The two-match series will be a part of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.

“It will be the first time in more than 20 years that Sri Lanka have been scheduled to host a Test across six days, with their match against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001 also including a rest day due to Poya Day (full moon) in the island nation,” said a statement from International Cricket Council (ICC).

Rest days were a regular feature in the last century. However, commercial obligations as well as tight year-round schedules have forced cricket boards to do away with it.

“The most recent Test with a rest day was in Dhaka in 2008 when Bangladesh's opening match of their series against Sri Lanka included a rest day on 29 December because of a parliamentary election,” the ICC added.

Test Cricket, Galle, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Rest Day