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World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle commences with the England-Australia series

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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 3HomeAway
2023-25Opp1HOpp2HOpp3HOpp1AOpp2AOpp3A
AUSIND5WI2PAK3NZ2ENG5SL2
BANNZ2SA2SL2IND2WI2PAK2
ENGAUS5WI3SL2NZ3IND5PAK3
INDNZ3ENG5BAN  2AUS5WI2SA2
NZAUS2ENG3SA2IND3BAN2SL2
PAKENG  3WI2BAN2AUS3SA2SL2
SAIND2PAK2SL2NZ2WI2BAN2
SLNZ2AUS2PAK2ENG2SA2BAN2
WIIND2SA2BAN2AUS2ENG3PAK2

Cricket

Sri Lanka to Begin Caribbean Tour with ODI Series in June 2026

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The Sri Lanka national cricket team is set to embark on a full tour of the West Indies cricket team in June and July 2026, featuring a complete schedule across all three formats of the game.

The tour will open with a three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the renowned Sabina Park. The first ODI is scheduled for June 3, followed by the second on June 6 and the final match on June 8. These opening fixtures are expected to set the tone for the remainder of the tour.

Attention will then shift to the shorter format, with three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) also taking place at Sabina Park. The matches are set for June 11, June 13, and June 14, offering fans a fast-paced contest between the two sides.

Sri Lanka will then travel to Antigua for a four-day warm-up game from June 18 to 21 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. This match will serve as preparation for the longer format of the game.

The two-match Test series will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The first Test is scheduled from June 25 to 29, while the second Test will take place from July 3 to 7.

Schedule

  • June 3 – First ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 6 – Second ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 8 – Third ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 11 – First T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 13 – Second T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 14 – Third T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 18–21 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground
  • ⁠June 25–29 – First Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
  • ⁠July 3–7 – Second Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
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Athletics

Hero’s Welcome for Golden Girl Wasana

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Sri Lanka celebrated in style as its lone gold medalist Nipuni Wasana at the 6th Asian Beach Games returned home to a rousing welcome, marking a proud moment for the nation.

Airwoman Nipuni Wasana stole the spotlight in Sanya, China, where she clinched gold in the Women’s 50kg Beach Wrestling event. In the final, she overcame Vietnam’s Doan Thi Kim Oanh with a composed and commanding performance, securing a historic victory for Sri Lanka.

Her achievement was met with a grand at Bandaranaike International Airport, where Air Force personnel, sports officials, and supporters gathered to honor her success. Wasana was also given the distinction of carrying the national flag at the closing ceremony, highlighting her status as the country’s top performer at the Games.

Sri Lanka wrapped up its campaign with a total of seven medals one gold, two silver, and four bronze demonstrating competitive strength across multiple disciplines.

The Women’s Beach Kabaddi team delivered an impressive performance to secure silver, while the Men’s team contributed with a bronze medal finish. In Athletics, Ishara Samanmali earned silver in the women’s long jump, and Sashikala Lankathilaka claimed bronze. The Men’s 4x60m relay team also added to the tally with a bronze-winning effort.

A contingent of 77 Sri Lankan athletes competed in eight sports at the Games. Although several disciplines did not produce medals, the team achieved a respectable 10th place overall.
Host nation China dominated the medal standings with 24 gold medals, followed by Thailand and Iran.

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Chathuranga takes charge as Tuskers seek redemption in final showdown

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Sri Lanka’s Tuskers head into their final fixture against the touring New Zealand Under-85kg side this evening with a fresh leader and a renewed sense of urgency, following a narrow defeat in the opening encounter.

In a notable pre-match development, Tharindu Chathuranga has been entrusted with the captaincy for the decisive game at Nittawela Stadium, set to kick off at 4.15 p.m. The move sees original skipper Lasindu Karunathilake relegated to the bench, as selectors opt for a different approach in their bid to overturn fortunes.

The Tuskers were competitive in the first leg but ultimately fell 27–16 at the Racecourse Grounds. With the series on the line, the team management has responded with a mix of tactical reshuffling and personnel changes aimed at sharpening both attack and defense.
Among the key adjustments, Omalka Gunarathna steps into the starting role at number eight, while Kavindu de Costa replaces Harsha Maduranga at scrum-half. An injury to winger Janidu Dilshan has forced another change, with Jayathu Rajarathna promoted from the bench to the starting XV.

Further alterations in the back division see Murshid Doray move to fullback, allowing Thenuka Nanayakkara to slot into the fly-half position to steer the attack. The bench too has been reinforced with fresh options, as selectors look to add impact in the latter stages of the contest.

Chathuranga, a seasoned campaigner and former Kingswood College leader, has earned recognition for guiding Kandy SC to a strong league season, finishing as runners-up. Known for his work rate and leadership qualities, he now shoulders the responsibility of rallying the side in a high-stakes encounter.

With pride and parity in the series at stake, the Tuskers will be aiming for a more disciplined and clinical display as they attempt to turn the tables on a resilient New Zealand outfit.

Line-up for the final match

Forwards: Deshan Vimukthi, Pulasthi Dassanayake, Hansitha De Silva, Thilina Bandara, Naveen Marasinghe, Tharindu Chathuranga (captain), Lahiru Thilakarathne, Omalka Gunarathna

Backs: Kavindu de Costa, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Dilulksha Dange, Arkash Maduranga, Manika Ruberu, Jayathu Rajarathna, Murshid Doray

Bench: Venura Kodhagoda, Charith Silva, Nisal, Lasindu Karunathilake, Denuwan Wickramaarachi, Oliver Buckle, Vidhuna Amaneth, Yuwan Pathirana

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