Three Tests are better than two: Captains

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and West Indies captain Chris Gayle have bemoaned the length of their side’s current Test series in the Caribbean.

The two opposing captains favour three-Test series instead of the two-Test format in which their sides were currently engaged.

Sri Lanka won the first Test by 121 runs at the Guyana National Stadium a fortnight ago and West Indies drew level by winning the second at Port-of-Spain by six wickets. Jayawardene reckons a longer series should have been scheduled after the stalemate following West Indies win in the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval.

“It is always good to play three-Test match series,” he said. “I’ve been saying that for some time. I’ve played in a lot of series that have ended 1-1 and not knowing exactly what would have happened.

“It is healthy to play three Test matches. You will know exactly which team is the better team in a series.

“We can’t do anything about it, but hopefully we can play more three-Test series or five-Test series, which are more challenging in international cricket,” he added.

“I totally agree that we should have played a three-Test series,” said West Indies captain Chris Gayle. “In a two-Test series, it is difficult to always come back. You want an opportunity to square the series. If you have another Test, it is head-to-head, and I feel the authorities should look at three Tests,” he added. [Agencies]