The Lankans were 160-3 after their spinners bowled out Bangladesh for 188 in 44 overs on the first day of the first Test.
Sri Lanka were all out for 268 before New Zealand slumped to 66 for four on the opening day of the second Test.
New Zealand secured a nervous five-wicket victory in the low-scoring first Test match against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka were toiling at 125 for eight at the close in their second innings, just 73 runs ahead on day two.
Sri Lanka piled on 240 for two in the second innings of their New Zealand tour match against Otago on Saturday.
"Like any other industry, cricket has been disrupted. IPL has been a disruptive event, giving players options and opportunities," Atherton said, talking about the future of Test cricket in the wake of ever rising popularity T20 Leagues, offering big bucks to the players.
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 78 runs to win the series 2-1
Kumar Sangakkara remained unbeaten after a sparkling half-century as Sri Lanka responded well to the challenge of scoring 370 runs in four sessions in order to win the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed five second innings wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 278 runs in the second Test for a series-levelling victory at the P Sara Oval, in Colombo, on Monday.
The tournament is set to be played in Dubai and also at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Images from the opening day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, on Thursday.
Sri Lanka's Upul Chandana, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara have been fined for using obscene and abusive language on Sunday.
Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara said his team is viewing the three-match series against India as a fresh start.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene vowed to extend South Africa's misery on Saturday after the hosts took control of the first Test.
They recorded unbeaten double hundreds and put Sri Lanka in total control of the first Test against South Africa on Friday.
At least four suspected bookmakers have been thrown out of cricket stadiums during the ongoing scandal-tainted Bangladesh Premier League, in efforts to ensure the tournament is graft free, an official said on Thursday. BPL secretary Ismail Haider Mallick said anti-corruption officials had spotted the four whom they suspected of placing bets on behalf of clients during Twenty20 league matches, which is illegal in Bangladesh.
Batting all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy realised his dream of playing international cricket for South Africa on Wednesday and could not be happier that his debut is against the country of his origin, India.
In a fitting tribute to Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews spoke of Don Bradman and the retiring great in the same breath, calling him the most "consistent batsman he has ever seen".
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from Day 2 of the Galle Test.
Veteran Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan bid farewell to ODI cricket by scoring a 65-ball 42 in his final game against Australia in the third ODI in Dambulla. Earlier this week, Dilshan announced that Sunday's third ODI would be his last in the 50-over format, before departing from Twenty20 internationals in Colombo on 9 September. The 39-year old will not be playing in the final two ODIs of the five-match series against Australia.
Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 79 as Sri Lanka recovered from 61 for 3 to 267 for 8 on day 1 of the second Test against Pakistan.
The duo have been left out of the training squad for the New Zealand series.
Bumrah is considered to be a key player for India.
Michael Vandort scored an unbeaten 64 to lead Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first Test
Fast bowlers Ruchira Perera and Farveez Maharoof paved the way for a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
Former England spinner Monty Panesar dismissed Sachin Tendulkar four times in 11 Tests but says the Indian legend was the best batsman he played against alongside Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Virender Sehwag was the "most destructive" of that era, Rahul Dravid was "The Wall", but the ability to change gears made Tendulkar the best.
Images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between England and India, at The Oval, on Thursday.
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 21 runs in the fourth one-day international.
Sri Lanka are toying with the idea of promoting Kumar Sangakkara to opener in the second one-day international against India.
Experienced batsman Mahela Jayawardene and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will return for Sri Lanka's three-Test series against Pakistan in UAE after skipping the ongoing one-day conTests due to personal reasons.
Chasing a target of 268, Africa XI finished at 250 against Asia XI to level the three-match series.
India dropped V V S Laxman to make room for off spinner Harbhajan Singh in the final of the tri-series.
Sangakkara's eighth Test ton guided the hosts to 340-7 at the close, 342 runs ahead of West Indies.
Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas grabbed six wickets to bowl West Indies out for 148 in the first innings of the second Test
Rohit Sharma is set to play at number three in the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning on Wednesday but Sunil Gavaskar feels India captain Virat Kohli should bat at the crucial position.
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