Sanga wants equal opportunity in Tests

[Mike23]

Since their tour of Australia in 2007, Sri Lanka have not played a Test series outside the subcontinent. They haven't been to South Africa for a Test tour since 2002 and the Tests in 2011 will be their first in England in five years.

"Sides must be given the opportunity to play a minimum number of Test matches and the Future Tours Programme must be reorganised so some of the best sides tour more than just once in five years," Sangakkara said. "There was once talk of playing a Test championship without Sri Lanka in the first year at a time when we were number two in the Test rankings. These are the inconsistencies they must address."

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka batsman, echoed his captain's views. "I think we need to think a bit more about Test cricket, you need to make sure all the teams are going to play eight to ten matches a year minimum, and then you can strike that balance," he said. "I have only played four Test matches in my entire career in Australia; that's in 12 years of playing.''

They should really be given more opportunity to play outside the subcontinent. People may argue that they are the ones who cancelled the England tour in 09 but it wasn't on the fixture list in the first place and besides they were called in as replacements for Zimbabwe and to add to that the player's hadn't been payed for 5 months at that time, so they needed to earn extra cash by playing in the IPL.
Source :- Cricinfo

 

[Dare]

They had the opportunity to play in England but boycotted that tour so they can play the IPL.
I agree with Sanga but if you are going to complain about not having enough tests outside the subcontinent then don't refuse to play because you wanted to make money.

 

[Mike23]

It wasn't on the fixture list in the first place and besides they were called up as replacements for zimbabwe. The main thing is that if it was on the fixtures i;m sure they would have go on the tour.Regarding the pay crisis, the west indies players were in one too and what did they do? they refused to play for the team for not being payed their salaries and SL were in that situation too that's why they 'boycotted' the England tour.

Okay besides that tour they haven't given much opportunity to play outside the subcontinent.The last time they toured South Africa was way back in 02.Almost 90% of that squad doesn't exist anymore. Mahela has only played in 4 games against Australia in Australia in his 12 year career, Sangakara, jayasuriya, etc have played in only 4 matches in the West Indies what does that show? They haven't been given equal number of test tours like the other teams.Murali has played in 72 matches at home and the next highest that he has played in is in india with 11 matches.

 

[Dare]

It wasn't on the fixture list in the first place and besides they were called up as replacements for zimbabwe. The main thing is that if it was on the fixtures i;m sure they would have go on the tour.Regarding the pay crisis, the west indies players were in one too and what did they do? they refused to play for the team for not being payed their salaries and SL were in that situation too that's why they 'boycotted' the England tour.

West Indies ended up taking that series and the entire team ended up showing for the England tour. The pay dispute wasn't over some series that wasn't on the list.
And Sri Lanka didn't take it because it ran parallel to the IPL in South Africa which allot of the senior players objected to.

 

[Mike23]

West Indies ended up taking that series and the entire team ended up showing for the England tour. The pay dispute wasn't over some series that wasn't on the list.
And Sri Lanka didn't take it because it ran parallel to the IPL in South Africa which allot of the senior players objected to.

What about the bangladesh-windies series where they played with a 'd' team iirc.SL didn't take it because they weren't paid by the board, so in order to make money they went to the ipl.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

yeah, you have to have some persepective Dare. In sri lanka players get paid a pittance, the money on offer in one season of the IPL was way beyond what they get and they weren't getting paid extra by the board.

The fact that sri lanka were the 2nd placed test team last year and were still getting just 2 test series from most other nations was ridiculous.

sangakkara is right, tours need to be organised on ranking, not profitability.