The Reason Behind the Rest Day in between the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test in Galle: An Explanation

In a historic move, a Test match in Galle between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will include a rest day for the first time in two decades, extending the usual five-day format to a six-day affair. The decision was made during the ongoing first Test match, in which Sri Lanka posted a total of 305 all out, with Kaminu Mendis scoring a century. New Zealand's William ORourke shone with a five-wicket haul in the match.

In reply, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell scored fifties each to propel New Zealand to 340 all out, thus taking a 35-run second-innings lead. Sri Lanka, in the second innings are 237/4 with a lead of 202 runs at the end of Day 3. ORourke once again impressed with the ball with 3/37.

However, no cricket will be played on Saturday (September 21), as the Island nation is having its Presidential elections, thus marking an off day for the host players who will be exercising their voting rights from their respective constituencies. The Test match will resume on Sunday.

Sri Lanka went into economic political turmoil in 2022, leading to nationwide protests and ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lankan cricket has never experienced such a thing before in the middle of a Test match, although there was Rest Day scheduled in Zimbabwe’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2001.

Against Zimbabwe in the first Test that started on December 27, a rest day (December 30) was put in place as it was a Poya Day – a Buddhist religious holiday, celebrated nationwide in Sri Lanka. The sixth day did not come into picture as the match ended in four matchdays.

The last time a Test match had a rest day in between due to parliamentary elections was in 2008 when Sri Lanka visited Bangladesh. The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka began on December 26 in Mirpur with the elections falling on December 29.

Expectedly, the match had to be paused after the third day. It resumed on December 30 which was considered as fourth day.