Sri Lanka to play nine Tests in 6 months (15 June 1999)

15 June 1999

Sri Lanka to play nine Tests in 6 months

Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka is due to play nine Tests - three each against Australia, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, during a six month period starting early September. The three-Test series against Australia will be at home while the other two series will be away.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Board has finalised the itinerary of Sri Lanka's three-Test tour of Zimbabwe which is due to take place from November 7 to December 20.

Sri Lanka will start their tour of Zimbabwe with a three-day warm up match at Bulawayo from November 7 to 9. They will play a similar side game at Kwe Kwe from November 12 to 14 before moving on to the first Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on November 18. The second and the third Tests will be played in Harare from November 26 to 30 and December 4 to 8 respectively.

Zimbabwe has never beaten Sri Lanka in a Test. Of the seven matches between the two teams so far, Sri Lanka has won four (all at home) while the other three have been drawn. But Sri Lanka has never won a Test on Zimbabwean soil. On the only previous Test tour of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka drew all three Tests.

Overall, Sri Lanka has played 90 Tests since making their Test debut against England in 1982 and won only 14 while losing 38 with another 38 drawn. But they are yet to beat Australia, South Africa and the West Indies in a Test.

Sri Lanka will also be engaged in a five-match one day international series against Zimbabwe after the three-Test series. These matches will be played on December 11, 12 (both in Bulawayo), 15, 18, 19 (all three in Harare).

Sri Lanka has a perfect one day international record against Zimbabwe. Of the 16 one day international matches between the two teams, Sri Lanka has won 12 (and lost only four) to enjoy a high success rate of 84.61%.

Only three ODI matches have been played between the two countries in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka has lost only one winning the other two.

Sri Lanka team's next international series will be a triangular one day international home tournament with Australia and India from August 22 to 31 which will be followed by a three-Test home series against Australia in September/ October.

Sri Lanka are also due to play in a Sharjah triangular tournament, which is yet to be confirmed, before they tour Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka has also given the initial green light from the Pakistan Cricket Board for a three-Test tour there in January/ February next year. The details of this series is yet to be finalised by the respective cricket boards.

Source :: The Daily News