Sangakkara urges Sri Lankan selectors to prioritise Test cricket

Former Sri Lankan batting great Kumar Sangakkara has called on his country's cricket selectors to focus on Test format and observed that it would require more than a year to strengthen the inexperienced line-up.

The 38-year-old, who called curtains on his glorious Test career after playing 134 Tests, suggested that the inclusion of top-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne would have benefitted the young Sri Lankan squad against New Zealand in the ongoing two-match series.

New Zealand took an unassailable 1-0 in the series after comprehensively defeating Sri Lanka by 122 runs in Dunedin.

The batting stalwart further said that limited-overs format tend to overshadow Test cricket but insisted that focus should be primarily on the five-day format as a cricketing nation, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Sangakkara, who is the latest international signing for the Hurricanes Big Bash League franchise, also expressed that he was hoping to see some consistent selection along with a solid performance from the team.

The second Test will start on Friday in Hamilton.