News
World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle commences with the England-Australia series
Australia begins their defence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title in a high-profile series against England after winning the second edition with an emphatic 209-run victory over India in the final at The Oval on Sunday.
The five-match Ashes series begins in Birmingham on Friday with Lord’s, Leeds, Manchester and The Oval hosting the remaining matches.
Australia play nine matches in this cycle away from home, which include two-Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. At home, they play against India (five), Pakistan (three) and the West Indies (two), for a total of 10 Tests.
England feature in 10 Tests at home and 11 away. They host the West Indies (3) and Sri Lanka (2) apart from Australia, while playing away in India (five), Pakistan (3) and New Zealand (3).
India’s two-Test tour of the West Indies, where they play in Dominica and Trinidad next month, is also part of the third edition of the WTC.
The structure of the nine-team WTC remains the same with each team playing three home and three away series over a two-year period culminating in the final of a one-off Test. The points percentage system used in the previous edition will determine the leaderboard with teams getting 12 points for a win, six for a tie and four for a draw.
The series in the championship remains as per the Men’s FTP announced last year. The media release distributed at the time of the announcement of the Men’s FTP is available here.
Wasim Khan, ICC’s General Manager of Cricket said the WTC had been great in enhancing interest in Test cricket and wished players all the best ahead of the new cycle.
Wasim Khan: “The third edition of the ICC World Test Championship begins on Friday with another highly anticipated series between England and Australia.
“This championship has invigorated Test match cricket, bringing context for players and fans, and a high level of competitiveness as teams battle it out to be crowned World Test Champions at the end of the two-year cycle.
“The big turnout out at The Oval over the five days and the incredible 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 commence their journey towards becoming World Test Champions in 2025”.
Captains Ben Stokes of England and Pat Cummins of Australia said they were excited and hoped to start well.
Ben Stokes: “We are looking forward to the new cycle of the World Test Championship, and hope we get off to a good start.
“The Ashes combined with World Test Championship points makes it an intriguing series against Australia. I am sure fans worldwide will be following the proceedings with eagerness. We are excited, for what the English summer holds.”
Pat Cummins: “It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding journey through this World Test Championship and we very much look forward to the next cycle.
“It was a goal of ours to reach the final and the fact we were able to win is a great outcome for the group. It’s a great start to our UK tour but there’s plenty of hard work still to be done over the next five Test matches.”
WTC Fixtures Table
WTC 3 | Home | Away | ||||||||||
2023-25 | Opp1 | H | Opp2 | H | Opp3 | H | Opp1 | A | Opp2 | A | Opp3 | A |
AUS | IND | 5 | WI | 2 | PAK | 3 | NZ | 2 | ENG | 5 | SL | 2 |
BAN | NZ | 2 | SA | 2 | SL | 2 | IND | 2 | WI | 2 | PAK | 2 |
ENG | AUS | 5 | WI | 3 | SL | 2 | NZ | 3 | IND | 5 | PAK | 3 |
IND | NZ | 3 | ENG | 5 | BAN | 2 | AUS | 5 | WI | 2 | SA | 2 |
NZ | AUS | 2 | ENG | 3 | SA | 2 | IND | 3 | BAN | 2 | SL | 2 |
PAK | ENG | 3 | WI | 2 | BAN | 2 | AUS | 3 | SA | 2 | SL | 2 |
SA | IND | 2 | PAK | 2 | SL | 2 | NZ | 2 | WI | 2 | BAN | 2 |
SL | NZ | 2 | AUS | 2 | PAK | 2 | ENG | 2 | SA | 2 | BAN | 2 |
WI | IND | 2 | SA | 2 | BAN | 2 | AUS | 2 | ENG | 3 | PAK | 2 |
News
Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 4: Powerhouses Dominate as Rivalries Intensify
The fourth week of the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League brought high-octane action across Colombo and Kandy, as traditional rugby giants asserted dominance while title ambitions sharpened. Here’s a round-up of the top matches that defined the week:
Trinity Outmuscles St. Joseph’s at CR & FC
Trinity College, Kandy, continued their unbeaten streak with a commanding 29-07 win over St. Joseph’s College, Maradana at the CR & FC grounds in Colombo. Trinity crossed the whitewash five times with 5 tries and 2 conversions, displaying explosive forward play and well-structured phases.
St. Joseph’s struggled to match Trinity’s physicality but managed a consolation try and conversion. At halftime, Trinity led 22-0, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout.
Wesley Tames St. Peter’s in Tight Clash
At Havelock Park, Wesley College recorded a gritty 23-05 victory over St. Peter’s College. The Wesleyites scored 3 tries, 1 conversion, and added 2 penalties, proving their clinical edge under pressure.
St. Peter’s could only respond with a single try and failed to find rhythm. Wesley led 8-0 at the break and controlled territory effectively in the second half.
Isipathana Outguns Zahira in a High-Scoring Thriller
In one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, Isipathana College edged out Zahira College 38-27 at Zahira Grounds. Isipathana scored 6 tries and 4 conversions, showcasing pace and creativity in attack.
Zahira fought back gallantly with 4 tries, 2 conversions, and a penalty, pushing the defending champions to the limit. At halftime, Isipathana led 26-8, and though Zahira launched a strong second-half rally, the Green Machine held on.
Royal Routs Vidyartha in Dominant Display
Royal College, Colombo, was at their clinical best as they overcame Vidyartha College, Kandy, 29-07 at the Royal Complex. The home side dotted down 5 tries and 2 conversions, demonstrating power rugby and slick handling.
Vidyartha managed a single converted try but struggled to contain Royal’s powerful forwards and rolling mauls. Royal led 12-7 at halftime before pulling away in the second half.
Looking Ahead
With teams like Trinity, Isipathana, and Royal continuing to impress, the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 is shaping up for a thrilling finish. Fans can expect tighter games and fierce battles as title dreams grow stronger.
Stay tuned with Sri Lankan Sports TV for full match reports, results, and exclusive school rugby coverage!
Athletics
Sri Lanka Shines at Thailand Open 2025 with 11-Medal Haul
The Sri Lankan athletics team wrapped up a remarkable campaign at the Thailand Open Athletics Championship 2025, securing an impressive 11 medals, including 6 golds, during the competition held from June 21 to 25 in Bangkok.
The Sri Lankan squad, made up of eight athletes—four men and four women—delivered standout performances across track and field events, making the nation proud on the international stage.
Leading the charge was Rusiru Chathuranga, who clinched double gold in the Men’s 800m and 1500m events. Vicknaraj Vakshan added to the tally with a gold in the 5000m and a silver in the 1500m, while W.K.L.A. Nimali matched that feat by claiming gold in the Women’s 800m and silver in the 1500m.
Madushani Herath showed her dominance in the field events, capturing gold in both the long jump and triple jump. Ayomal Akalanka earned silver in the Men’s 400m hurdles, and Wathsala Hapuarachchi took silver in the Women’s 100m hurdles. Safreen Ahmed contributed a bronze medal in the Men’s triple jump.
While seven out of eight athletes reached the podium, Amasha de Silva narrowly missed out, finishing fourth in the Women’s 100m final, showcasing a commendable performance.
The full team is expected to return to Sri Lanka today after a tour that highlights the depth of talent in local athletics and signals strong potential ahead of upcoming regional events
News
Kingswood College Claims Hard-Fought Win Over Zahira in Week 3 of Schools Rugby League
Colombo – June 23:
Kingswood College, Kandy, came from behind to secure a gritty 27-18 victory over Zahira College, Colombo, in a Week 3 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 played at Zahira College Grounds.
Despite trailing 11-10 at halftime, Kingswood regrouped and powered through in the second half, scoring 3 tries, 3 conversions, and 2 penalties to take home the win. Zahira fought valiantly with 2 tries, 1 conversion, and 2 penalties, but couldn’t match Kingswood’s consistency in the closing stages.
This win marks an important step for Kingswood in their league journey as they eye a stronger position in the 2025 standings.
Full-Time Score:
Kingswood College 27 (3T, 3C, 2P)
Zahira College 18 (2T, 1C, 2P)
📍 Venue: Zahira College Grounds, Colombo
📅 Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 – Week 3
-
Live4 years ago
Live Broadcast of Syria vs Sri Lanka | AFC U23 Asian Championship Qualification
-
Football5 months ago
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping
-
Cricket1 month ago
Nuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final
-
News5 months ago
2025 Schools Rugby Season Set to Thrill Fans with Knockout and League Action
-
Football5 months ago
FFSL Rebrands Division-1 as ‘League-One’ with a Bold New Vision
-
Football4 months ago
Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!
-
News4 years ago
We are Back
-
Football5 months ago
Erling Haaland Signs Record-Breaking 9.5-Year Contract Extension with Manchester City