{"id":184010,"date":"2026-06-22T06:27:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=184010"},"modified":"2026-06-22T06:27:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:57:34","slug":"aravinda-de-silva-test-cricket-can-thrive-if-its-biggest-rivalries-are-sold-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=184010","title":{"rendered":"Aravinda de Silva: Test cricket can thrive if its biggest rivalries are sold better"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

Even as franchise leagues continue to expand their footprint across the cricketing world, Aravinda de Silva remains convinced that Test cricket still has a future \u2014 provided the game finds a better way to sell its biggest rivalries.<\/p>\n

The architect of Sri Lanka\u2019s historic 1996 World Cup triumph believes the longest format can survive and thrive if administrators package marquee contests as global events.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf India and Pakistan play a Test series today, there will be enormous interest. It is how you create that battle,\u201d De Silva told\u00a0 Sportstar<\/i>, suggesting that iconic series should be promoted like tennis Grand Slams, with dedicated windows and greater incentives for players. He also credited India for preserving the relevance of Test cricket despite the growing influence of the IPL.<\/p>\n

Having witnessed cricket evolve across eras, De Silva feels the sport\u2019s fundamentals remain unchanged even though money, technology and franchise leagues have transformed the landscape.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | More than Nabi\u2019s son: Hassan Eisakhil\u2019s journey through Afghan cricket<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have continued to do well since 1996. It\u2019s unfortunate that we haven\u2019t won another 50-over World Cup, even though we came close in 2007 and 2011. But talent-wise, I still don\u2019t see any issue. The players and administrators have to look at how the game is changing and align with modern-day requirements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to De Silva, financial strength has become one of the biggest differentiators in modern cricket.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost countries which are financially strong have been able to dominate the sport,\u201d he said, pointing to the importance of investment in research, infrastructure and human resources.<\/p>\n

The 60-year-old was equally enthusiastic when the conversation turned to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose fearless batting has caught the attention of the cricketing world.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | Sooryavanshi can draw crowds to Test cricket, says Sidath Wettimuny<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThe shorter format allows these youngsters to come out and express themselves. Sport is all about that freedom,\u201d De Silva said. \u201cDuring our time, Sanath (Jayasuriya) and Kalu (Romesh Kaluwitharana) were encouraged to play their natural game without worrying about getting out.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he also stressed the importance of guidance for young prodigies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe grounding is very important. Who you listen to and take advice from is very important,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as young players have the willingness to learn and the right people around them, they can have a long and successful career.\u201d<\/p>\n

For De Silva, the game may look very different from the one he helped redefine three decades ago, but the ingredients for sustained success remain the same: talent, vision, discipline and a willingness to evolve.<\/p>\n

Published on Jun 22, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even as franchise leagues continue to expand their footprint across the cricketing world, Aravinda de Silva remains convinced that Test cricket still has a future \u2014 provided the game finds…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":184011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-184010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_20260622_153759.jpg.jpeg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":176229,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176229","url_meta":{"origin":184010,"position":0},"title":"India set for a blockbuster 12-match New Zealand tour, the biggest in a generation","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"India will play 12 international cricket matches in New Zealand later this year in a tour billed as the biggest in New Zealand in a generation. 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