Sri Lanka national cricket team

Cricket was introduced to the island by the British as a result of the colonization and the first recorded match dates back to 1832 as reported in The Colombo Journal.[11] By the 1880s a national team, the Ceylon national cricket team, was formed which began playing first-class cricket by the 1920s. The Ceylon national cricket team achieved Associate Member status of the International Cricket Council in 1965. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972, the national team first competed in top-level international cricket in 1975, when they were defeated by nine wickets by the West Indies during the 1975 Cricket World Cup at Old Trafford, England.[12]

Sri Lanka was awarded Test cricket status in 1981 by the International Cricket Conference. They played their first Test match against England at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo, on 17 February 1982. Bandula Warnapura was the captain for Sri Lanka in that match, which England won by 7 wickets.[13] After Sri Lanka was awarded Test status on 21 July 1981 as eighth Test playing nation, they had to wait until 6 September 1985, where Sri Lanka recorded their first Test win by beating India, in the second match of the series by 149 runs at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo.[14][15] They have also won the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship, defeating Pakistan in the final by an innings and 175 runs.[16]

Sri Lanka won their first Test match under the leadership of Duleep Mendis on 11 September 1985 against India, winning by 149 runs at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.[17] Eventually they won the three-match Test series, 1–0.[18] Sri Lanka had to wait more than seven years for their next series victory, which came against New Zealand in December 1992, when they won the two-match series 1–0.[19] This was immediately followed by a one-wicket victory against England in a one-Test series.[20]

Two years later, on 15 March 1995, Sri Lanka won their first overseas Test match under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga against New Zealand, when they beat them by 241 runs at Napier.[21] This win also resulted in their first overseas Test series victory, 1–0.[22] Their next series too was an overseas series, against Pakistan, and that one too resulted in Sri Lankan victory.[23]

Sri Lanka registered their first ODI win against India at Old Trafford, England on 16 June 1979.[24]

The 2011 Cricket World Cup Final, Sri Lankan team reached their third final in the Cricket World Cups

After many years of underdog status, Sri Lanka finally entered the limelight of the cricketing world after winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga.[25] Meanwhile, they revolutionized modern day batting strategies by rapid scoring during the first 15 overs. Sri Lanka later became the co-champions in 2002 ICC Champions Trophy and also became six times Asian champions in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2022.

On 11 September 1999, under the leadership of Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka won their first Test match against Australia, when they beat them by six wickets at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.[26] Eventually they won the three-match Test series, 1–0.

On 14 June 2000, Sri Lanka played their 100th Test match. It was against Pakistan, at SSC, Colombo, under the leadership of Sanath Jayasuriya. Pakistan won by 5 wickets.[27]

The first Test match of the 2012 Pakistan's Sri Lankan tour, Sri Lanka went on to win the match

On 4 August 2016, they played their 250th Test match when they played Australia in Galle.[28] They won the match by 229 runs,[29] and also won the Warne-Muralidharan trophy for the first time since its inception. On 17 August 2016, under the leadership of Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia 3-0 for the first time in Test cricket.[30]

Until 2017, Sri Lanka had whitewashed Zimbabwe three times, Bangladesh once and Australia once in Test cricket.

Sri Lanka played their first day-night Test match on 6 October 2017 against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.[31][32][33] Under the captaincy of Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka convincingly won the match by 68 runs and sweep the series 2–0. In the match, Dimuth Karunaratne became the first Sri Lankan to score a fifty, a century and a 150 in a day-night Test. Lahiru Gamage, who debut in the match became the first Sri Lankan to take a wicket in a day-night Test, whereas Dilruwan Perera became the first Sri Lankan to take five-wicket haul in a day-night Test.[34]

Sri Lanka played their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Rose Bowl, on 15 June 2006, against England, winning the match by 2 runs.[35] In 2014, they won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, defeating India by 6 wickets.[36]

The second Test match of the 2014 Sri Lanka's England tour, Sri Lanka won the match, despite trailing in the first inning

As of July 2018, Sri Lanka have faced nine teams in Test cricket, only recent Test nations Afghanistan and Ireland are missing from their list of opponents, with their most frequent opponent being Pakistan, playing 55 matches against them.[37] Sri Lanka has registered more wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh than any other team, with 14.[37] In ODI matches, Sri Lanka has played against 17 teams; they have played against India most frequently, with a winning percentage of 39.49 in 149 matches.[38] Within usual major ODI nations, Sri Lanka have defeated England on 34 occasions, which is their best record in ODIs.[38] The team have competed against 13 countries in T20Is, and have played 15 matches against New Zealand. Sri Lanka have defeated Australia and West Indies 6 occasions each.[39] Sri Lanka was the best T20I team in the world, where they ranked number one in more than 32 months, and reached World Twenty20 final in three times.

As of 10 July 2018, Sri Lanka have played 272 Test matches; they have won 86 matches, lost 101 matches, and 85 matches were drawn.[40] As of 10 July 2018, Sri Lanka have played 816 ODI matches, winning 376 matches and losing 399; they also tied 5 matches, whilst 36 had no result.[41] As of 10 July 2018, Sri Lanka have played 108 T20I matches and won 54 of them; 52 were lost and 1 tied and 1 no result match as well.[42]

From 8 July 2017 to 23 October 2017, Sri Lanka lost twelve consecutive ODI matches, which is their second longest losing run in ODIs.[43][44] In the meantime, Sri Lanka involved 5-0 whitewash in three times against South Africa, India and Pakistan in 2017. And a 3-0 whitewash against the West Indies 3 years later (2020).[45]

On 09 September 2019, Sri Lanka won the T20I series 3-0 against Pakistan in their home under Dasun Shanaka's captaincy. It was the first time that Sri Lanka whitewashed Pakistan in a T20I series.[46] In July 2021, Sri Lanka won T20I series against India 2-1, recording their first ever bilateral T20I series win against India.[47]

On 4 March 2022, Sri Lanka played their 300th Test match in Mohali against India.[48] Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 222 runs.[49] Amid political turmoil back home, Sri Lanka won the 2022 Asia Cup, defeating Pakistan in the final on 11 September 2022.[50]

On 28 April 2023, Sri Lanka won their 100th Test match win against Ireland at Galle.They won the test series as 2-0. They became the 8th test nation to reach this milstone.

Sri Lanka's cricket team's logo is a golden lion with a sword bearing on the right arm and the background is bright blue in colour. The name "Sri Lanka Cricket" is written below the lion. It's seen on practice jersey at the top-right side.

SLC cricket team logo on the practice jersey

Sri Lanka cricket team logo

In Test cricket, the logo in the cap is slightly changed, where the lion with a sword is surrounded by petals of lotus and then a blue circle surrounds the crest and a yellow circle surrounds the blue circle, present in the coat of arms. This logo is seen on the front of the caps and helmets in ODIs and T20Is.

Sri Lanka cricket team logo on the helmet

• World Cup:
  • Champions (1): 1996
  • Runners-up (2): 2007, 2011
• T20 World Cup:
  • Champions (1): 2014
  • Runners-up (2): 2009, 2012
• Champions Trophy:
  • Champions (1): 2002

• Asia Cup:
  • Champions (6): 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022
  • Runners-up (7): 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2023
• Asian Test Championship:
  • Champions (1): 2001–02
  • Runners-up (1): 1998–99

• Asian Games
  • Gold Medal (1): 2014
• South Asian Games
  • Silver Medal (2): 2010, 2019

• Pramodya Wickramasinghe (Chairman)
• Romesh Kaluwitharana
• Hemantha Wickramaratne

• 1995–1996: Dav Whatmore
• 1997–1998: Bruce Yardley
• 1998–1999: Roy Dias
• 1999–2003: Dav Whatmore
• 2003–2005: John Dyson
• 2005–2007: Tom Moody
• 2007–2011: Trevor Bayliss
• 2011: Stuart Law (interim)
• 2011: Rumesh Ratnayake (interim)
• 2011–2012: Geoff Marsh
• 2012–2013: Graham Ford 1st stint
• 2013–2014: Paul Farbrace
• 2014–2015: Marvan Atapattu
• 2015–2016: Jerome Jayaratne (interim)
• 2016–2017: Graham Ford 2nd stint
• 2017: Nic Pothas (interim)
• 2017–2019: Chandika Hathurusingha
• 2019–2021: Mickey Arthur
• 2022: Rumesh Ratnayake (interim)
• 2022–present: Chris Silverwood

Updated: 21 October 2023

• Highest team total: 952/6 dec. v. India at RPS, Colombo in 1997[107]
• Lowest team total: 71 v. Pakistan at Asgiriya in 1994[108]
• Sri Lanka holds the world record for the highest team score, 952/6

• Most matches: 149 Tests – Mahela Jayawardene[109]
• Longest-serving captain: 56 Tests – Arjuna Ranatunga[110]

• Most runs: 12,400 – Kumar Sangakkara[111]
• Best average: 57.40 – Kumar Sangakkara[112]
• Highest individual score: 374 – Mahela Jayawardene v. South Africa at SSC, Colombo in 2006
• Highest partnership: 624 – Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene v. South Africa at SSC, Colombo in 2006
• Most centuries: 38 – Kumar Sangakkara

• Most wickets: 800 – Muttiah Muralitharan[113]
• Best average: 22.67 – Muttiah Muralitharan
• Best figures in an innings: 9/51 – Muttiah Muralitharan v. Zimbabwe at Asgiriya in 2002
• Best figures in a match: 16/220 – Muttiah Muralitharan v. England at The Oval in 1998
• Best strike rate: 51.5 – Lasith Malinga
• Best economy rate: 2.33 – Don Anurasiri

• Most catches by an outfielder: 205 – Mahela Jayawardene
• Most dismissals as wicketkeeper: 156 – Prasanna Jayawardene
• Most dismissals in an innings: 6 – Amal Silva v. India at SSC, Colombo in 1985 and Dinesh Chandimal v. Pakistan at PSS, Colombo in 2015
• Most dismissals in a match: 9 – Amal Silva v. India at SSC, Colombo & PSS, Colombo in 1985 and Prasanna Jayawardene v. Pakistan at Dubai in 2014[114]

• Highest team total: 443/9 (50 overs) v. Netherlands at VRA Cricket Ground in 2006[117]
• Lowest team total: 43 (20.1 overs) v. South Africa at Boland Park in 2012[118]
• Sri Lanka holds the world record for maximum defeats in ODI history- 442.[119]

• Most matches: 443 – Mahela Jayawardene[120]
• Longest-serving captain: 193 matches – Arjuna Ranatunga[121]

• Most runs: 14,234 – Kumar Sangakkara[122]
• Best average: 42.40 –Charith Asalanka[123]
• Best strike rate: 112.59 – Thisara Perera[124]
• Highest individual score: 189 – Sanath Jayasuriya v. India at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in 2000[125]
• Highest partnership: 286* – Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga v. England at Headingley in 2006[126]
• Most centuries: 28 – Sanath Jayasuriya[127]
• Most Sixes: 268 – Sanath Jayasuriya[128]

• Most wickets: 534 – Muttiah Muralitharan[129]
• Best average: 21.87 – Ajantha Mendis[130]
• Best figures in an innings: 8/19 – Chaminda Vaas v. Zimbabwe at Colombo (SSC) in 2001[131]
• Best strike rate: 27.3 – Ajantha Mendis[132]
• Best economy rate: 3.93 – Muttiah Muralitharan[133]

• Most catches by an outfielder: 212 – Mahela Jayawardene[134]
• Most dismissals as wicketkeeper: 473 – Kumar Sangakkara[135]
• Most dismissals in a match: 5 – Guy de Alwis v. Australia at Colombo (PSS) in 1983; Hashan Tillakaratne v. Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in 1990; Romesh Kaluwitharana v. Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in 1995; Kumar Sangakkara v. Netherlands at Colombo (RPS) in 2002[136]

• Highest team total: 260/6 v. Kenya at Johannesburg in 2007[138]
• Lowest team total: 79 v. India at Visakhapatnam in 2016[139]

• Most matches: 88 – Dasun Shanaka[140]
• Longest-serving captain: 48 matches – Dasun Shanaka[141]

• Most runs: 1,889 – Tillakaratne Dilshan[142]
• Best average: 31.77 – Mahela Jayawardene[143]
• Best strike rate: 147.67 – Thisara Perera[144]
• Highest individual score: 104* – Tillakaratne Dilshan v. Australia at Pallekele in 2011[145]
• Highest partnership: 166 – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara v. West Indies at Kensington Oval in 2010[146]
• Most centuries: 1 – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene[147]
• Most Sixes: 68 – Dasun Shanaka[148]

• Most wickets: 107 – Lasith Malinga[149]
• Best average: 14.42 – Ajantha Mendis[150]
• Best bowling: 6/8 – Ajantha Mendis v. Zimbabwe at Hambantota in 2012[151]
• Best strike rate: 13.4 – Ajantha Mendis[152]
• Best economy rate: 6.45 – Ajantha Mendis[153]

• Most catches by an outfielder: 30 – Dasun Shanaka[154]
• Most dismissals as wicketkeeper: 45 – Kumar Sangakkara[155]
• Most dismissals in an innings: 4 – Dinesh Chandimal v. South Africa at Johannesburg in 2017[156]