logo
De Silva rues misses, confident about next WTC cycle

De Silva rues misses, confident about next WTC cycle

Despite these setbacks, Dhananjaya de Silva remains focused on the task ahead and wants his team to concentrate on winning as many matches as possible from the 12 scheduled Tests Sri Lanka will play in this cycle.
A new-look Sri Lanka will feature against Bangladesh, with up to six uncapped players named in the squad, many of them selected on the back of strong domestic performances.
"We need to prepare for the situations that we do get. We've had a good National Super League (Sri Lanka's premier first-class tournament) recently, and we've had good preparation through that. We've also identified a few good youngsters through that. We're looking to embark on this next journey with them.'
Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh in the first of the two Tests beginning Tuesday, June 17 that will mark the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship 25-27 cycle.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mulder wants to make No.3 spot his own for South Africa
Mulder wants to make No.3 spot his own for South Africa

Int'l Cricket Council

timean hour ago

  • Int'l Cricket Council

Mulder wants to make No.3 spot his own for South Africa

Mulder contributed scores of six and 27 during the Ultimate Test at Lord's, with the 27-year-old's partnership of 61 with centurion Aiden Markram on the third day of the contest a pivotal moment in the Proteas' five-wicket victory over Australia. It was just the fourth time that Mulder had batted at No.3 for South Africa at Test level, and the talented all-rounder is keen to cement that spot in the Proteas' line-up. "To be honest, I loved it (batting at three) in this Test. I'm a bad watcher, especially knowing I'm going in next to bat, I get so nervous, and I think everyone really does,' Mulder told ICC Digital . Proteas return to Lord's for more celebrations | WTC25 The Proteas return to Lord's for more celebrations following their ICC World Test Championship triumph. "If they say they don't, I think they're lying, to be honest. There are a lot of things that go through your head when you're watching when you're batting at three, you have to be switched on pretty much from the first ball. 'I didn't mind that and I really enjoyed it. And I really hope that Shuks (South Africa coach Shukri Conrad) sees me there going forward in that position as I think I can have a big impact." The No.3 position in the Proteas' batting group is one spot that hasn't been locked in during recent times, with Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, and Tristan Stubbs among the players to have been utilised in the crucial batting slot across South Africa's run to the Lord's finale. But if Mulder does bat at No.3 going forward, then it allows the Proteas the luxury of being able to select three first-choice seamers and experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj in the same side. "I think it balances our team well," Mulder noted. "If you look at the combinations we can play, we can play Kesh up anywhere we go if I bat at three, because I can be the fourth seamer and Kesh will be your spinner pretty much anywhere in the world. "And I think that makes us quite versatile in so many different conditions and if I can get some runs there it would mean a lot. "To be able to get a bit more responsibility with the bat just suits my character a bit more and that opportunity to bat at three just gives me that opportunity to always have an impact on the game somewhere along the line." Mulder won't have to wait long to get his next chance at No.3, with the Proteas scheduled to play two Tests against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in the coming weeks where a trio of first-choice batters in Markram, Rickelton and Stubbs have all been rested. It means Mulder will almost certainly get the opportunity to make that spot his own and he can't wait to get back out in the middle. "I haven't batted a lot at three, so it's another opportunity to learn and try and get some runs and have an impact on the game," Mulder added. "It's going to be a little bit different mentally to this (WTC Final) Test and the preparation to this Test, because we were playing against the Aussies in probably the biggest Test I'll ever play in. "So to get up for it is going to be a different challenge, but I love the game, so I just want to play and when I spoke to Shooks about it, I said, 'please don't even consider not playing me'." ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025NewsMen's News

World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle commences with Sri Lanka-Bangladesh and England-India series
World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle commences with Sri Lanka-Bangladesh and England-India series

Int'l Cricket Council

time2 hours ago

  • Int'l Cricket Council

World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle commences with Sri Lanka-Bangladesh and England-India series

Fresh from South Africa becoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 winners, the next cycle begins in earnest with a string of high-profile series kicking off proceedings. Sri Lanka's two-Test series at home against Bangladesh, which begins on 17 June, is the first contest of the 2025-27 cycle and soon overlaps with a five-Test showdown between England and India. The two teams will go head-to-head at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford and The Oval in the coming weeks. Beaten finalists Australia begin their bid to regain their WTC crown in the Caribbean as they take on West Indies in a three-Test series for the right to lift the Frank Worrell Trophy. As per the previous cycles, nine teams will contest the WTC and each nation will play six other sides – three home and three away – over the course of the two-year period. Australia play 11 matches at home – including an Ashes series against England later this year and four Tests against New Zealand – and the same number away. England play 11 Tests on their own turf and 10 on the road, visiting beaten WTC Final 2025 finalists South Africa for a three-Test tour in December 2026. India will play 18 matches in this cycle, split evenly home and away, with 2021 champions New Zealand playing in 16. The points percentage system used in the previous two editions will determine the leaderboard with teams getting 12 points for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw. ICC Chair, Mr. Jay Shah, is looking forward to the next instalment of the WTC and wished players all the best ahead of the new cycle. Mr. Shah said: 'The third edition of the World Test Championship came to a fantastic conclusion at Lord's as Australia and South Africa played out a classic encounter and we now look forward to the next instalment. 'This Championship continues to invigorate Test match cricket, and four of the nine competing nations have now reached a Final over the first three cycles. 'Bringing context for players and fans, as well as a high level of competitiveness, is key and the big turnout out at Lord's – as well as the viewership levels across the globe – for the Final is testimony to the continued popularity of Test cricket. 'I would like to thank the Member Boards for their continued support of this exciting concept and wish the players all the very best as they begin their journey towards the next Final in 2027.' ENDS

Sri Lanka's Mathews hails 'dream run' in final Test against Bangladesh
Sri Lanka's Mathews hails 'dream run' in final Test against Bangladesh

Khaleej Times

time13 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Sri Lanka's Mathews hails 'dream run' in final Test against Bangladesh

Sri Lanka are set to begin a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Galle on Tuesday that will mark the end of Angelo Mathews's "dream run" in the game's longest format, as the cricket season resumed following South Africa's World Test Championship triumph at Lord's. The red-ball matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be followed by a white-ball series of three one-day internationals and three T20s. Hosts Sri Lanka begin the contest as firm favourites, eager to turn a fresh page after a stuttering end to the previous WTC cycle. Sri Lanka were firmly in the mix for a place in the WTC final until December before the wheels came off spectacularly. Two defeats in South Africa followed by a twin collapse at Galle against Australia saw them tumble down the rankings. "We had one hand on a spot in the final but a few brain fades at crunch moments cost us dearly," Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva told reporters on Monday. "We've learnt our lessons. A strong home start lays the foundation for success on the road." Sri Lanka's squad includes six uncapped players, with at least one debut cap set to be handed out. Spin remains Sri Lanka's strength, with Prabath Jayasuriya the key and selectors also calling up off-spinner Akila Dananjaya. Bangladesh enter the series without stalwarts Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is realistic about the challenge. "Tamim and Shakib -– those are massive boots to fill," he said. "But this is a chance for the young guys to put their hands up." Shanto, who is playing in Galle for the first time, said the team have "prepped well and we're ready for the challenge". The Test will also be the swansong of Sri Lanka's veteran Angelo Mathews, who is retiring after 118 Tests. The former skipper also played his first Test on the famous pitch perched beneath the fortress in Galle in 2009. "It's been a dream run," said 38-year-old Mathews. "The wins in England in 2014 and whitewashing the Aussies in 2016 stand out. I've seen so many youngsters come through the ranks," he said. "I truly believe Sri Lanka's future is in good hands." Sri Lanka have won 20 of the 26 Tests they have played against Bangladesh, who have only managed a solitary win along with five draws. The second Test will begin in Colombo on June 25.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store