All you need to know about rare 6-day Test match to be played between Sri Lanka vs New Zealand

The upcoming Test series between Sri Lanka vs New Zealand is all set to commence next month. Sri Lanka Cricket has officially released the schedule for the series. 

As per reports, a rare six-day Test match will be played held at Galle during the series. The match will feature a rest day on September 21, coinciding with a presidential election in Sri Lanka.

The first Test, commencing on September 18, will incorporate this rest day. It will mark the first instance in over two decades that Sri Lanka has scheduled a six-day Test. Earlier in 2001, against Zimbabwe in Colombo, where a rest day was observed for Poya Day. It is a traditional full moon holiday in Sri Lank.

Notably, rest days were once a common practice in Test cricket. The practice was prevalent particularly in matches played in England. Sundays were often designated as rest days during the period.

However, the trend is not any more prevalent in recent times. The most recent instance of a rest day in Test cricket was in 2008. It took place during a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka. The rest day was observed due to a parliamentary election on December 29.