The world of cricket has witnessed many incredible rivalries, but few are as fascinating as the matches between Sri Lanka and England.
The sri lanka national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline represents more than four decades of competitive cricket that has entertained millions of fans worldwide.
This rivalry began when Sri Lanka was still finding its feet in international cricket, while England was already an established powerhouse with decades of experience.
The sl national cricket team vs england cricket team timeline shows us how a young cricket nation grew to challenge one of the sport’s most traditional teams.
What makes this story special is how both teams have evolved together, creating memorable moments that cricket fans still talk about today.
The sri lanka national cricket team vs eng cricket team timeline covers all formats of cricket.
Test cricket, the traditional five-day format, has given us the most dramatic contests. One Day Internationals (ODIs) brought faster-paced excitement, while Twenty20 (T20) cricket added explosive entertainment.
Each format has contributed unique chapters to this ongoing cricket story.
From Sri Lanka’s first international match to England’s recent dominance, this timeline showcases outstanding individual performances, team achievements, and moments that changed cricket history.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Timeline
Players like Muthiah Muralidaran, Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka, and Joe Root, James Anderson from England have all contributed to making this rivalry special and worth following for any cricket enthusiast.
Origins of the ENG vs SL
The cricket journey between these two nations started on a cold February day in 1982 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This was more than just a cricket match; it was Sri Lanka’s introduction to serious international competition.
| Historic First Meeting | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | February 13, 1982 |
| Location | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Format | One Day International |
| England Score | 212 runs |
| Sri Lanka Score | 206/8 runs |
| Winning Margin | 5 runs (England victory) |
This first encounter was absolutely thrilling. England managed to score 212 runs, which seemed like a good total. Sri Lanka, playing their very first ODI, came incredibly close by reaching 206 runs but fell short by just 5 runs. However, the story didn’t end there. The very next day, February 14th, Sri Lanka achieved something truly special by winning their second-ever ODI against England by 3 runs. This early success gave Sri Lankan cricket the confidence to believe they could compete with anyone.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 1980 to 1990
The 1980s marked the foundation years of this cricket relationship. During this decade, England held the upper hand, but Sri Lanka showed glimpses of their future potential.
Test Matches
| Date | Venue | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17-21, 1982 | Colombo (PPS) | SL vs ENG – Only Test | ENG won by 7 wickets |
| Aug 23-28, 1984 | Lord’s | ENG vs SL – Only Test | Match Drawn |
| Aug 25-30, 1988 | Lord’s | ENG vs SL – Only Test | ENG won by 7 wickets |
The Test matches during this period showed England’s clear superiority. Playing at Lord’s Cricket Ground, known as the “Home of Cricket,” was a huge learning experience for the young Sri Lankan team.
ODI Matches
| Date | Venue | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 1982 | Colombo (PPS) | England in Sri Lanka ODI Series- 1st ODI | ENG won by 5 runs |
| Feb 14, 1982 | Colombo (PPS) | England in Sri Lanka ODI Series- 2nd ODI | SL won by 5 runs |
| June 11, 1983 | Taunton | Prudential World Cup | ENG won by 47 runs |
| Oct 23, 1987 | Pune | Reliance World Cup | ENG won by 8 Wickets |
| Sep 4, 1988 | The Oval | Texaco Trophy | ENG won by 5 Wickets |
| Oct 15, 1989 | Delhi | MRF World Series (Nehru Cup) | ENG won by 5 Wickets |
Throughout the 1980s, these teams played 6 ODI encounters. England dominated by winning 5 matches, while Sri Lanka managed just 1 victory. Despite this lopsided record, Sri Lanka’s participation in major tournaments like the World Cup was building valuable experience for the future.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 1990 to 2000
The 1990s became a transformative decade for Sri Lankan cricket. This period saw them evolve from underdogs to genuine competitors who could challenge England on equal terms.
Test Matches
| Date | Venue | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22-27, 1991 | Lord’s | ENG vs SL – Only Test | ENG won by 137 runs |
| Mar 13-18, 1993 | Colombo (SSC) | SL vs ENG – Only Test | SL won by 5 wickets |
| Aug 27-31, 1998 | The Oval | ENG vs SL – Only Test | SL won by 10 wickets |
The breakthrough moment came in 1993 when Sri Lanka achieved their first-ever Test victory against England at home in Colombo. Even more impressive was their 1998 triumph at The Oval in London, proving they could win in England’s backyard.
ODI Matches
| Date | Venue | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 09, 1992 | Ballarat | Benson & Hedges World Cup | ENG won by 106 runs |
| Mar 10, 1993 | Colombo (RPS) | SL in ENG ODI Series- 1st ODI | SL won by 32 runs |
| Mar 20, 1993 | Moratuwa | SL in ENG ODI Series- 2nd ODI | SL won by 8 wickets |
| Mar 09, 1996 | Faisalabad | Wills World Cup | SL won by 5 Wickets |
| Aug 16, 1998 | Lord’s | Emirates Triangular Tournament | ENG won by 36 runs |
| Aug 20, 1998 | Lord’s | Emirates Triangular Tournament | SL won by 5 Wickets |
| Jan 11, 1999 | Brisbane | Carlton & United Series | ENG won by 4 Wickets |
| Jan 19, 1999 | Melbourne | Carlton & United Series | ENG won by 7 Wickets |
| Jan 23, 1999 | Adelaide | Carlton & United Series | SL won by 1 Wicket |
| Jan 29, 1999 | Perth | Carlton & United Series | ENG won by 128 runs |
| Feb 03, 1999 | Sydney | Carlton & United Series | SL won by 11 runs |
| May 14, 1999 | Lord’s | ICC World Cup | ENG won by 8 Wickets |
During the 1990s, they contested 17 ODI matches. The competition became much more balanced, with England winning 9 matches and Sri Lanka claiming 8 victories. The highlight was undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory over England in 1996.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 2001 to 2010
This decade is remembered as the “Golden Period” when both teams produced their finest cricket. The matches during this era were closely contested and featured world-class performances.
Test Matches
| Date | Venue | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22-26, 2001 | Galle | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (1st Match) | SL won by 28 runs |
| Mar 07-11, 2001 | Kandy | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (2nd Match) | ENG won by 3 wickets |
| Mar 15-17, 2001 | Colombo (SSC) | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (3rd Match) | ENG won by 4 wickets |
| May 16-20, 2002 | Lords | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (1st Match) | Match Drawn |
| May 30-June 02, 2002 | Birmingham | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (2nd Match) | ENG won by 111 runs |
| Jun 13-17, 2002 | Manchester | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (3rd Match) | ENG won by 10 wickets |
| Dec 02-06, 2003 | Galle | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (1st Match) | Match Drawn |
| Dec 10-14, 2003 | Kandy | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (2nd Match) | Match Drawn |
| Dec 18-21, 2003 | Colombo (SSC) | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (3rd Match) | SL won by 215 runs |
| May 11-15, 2006 | Lord’s | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (1st Match) | Match Drawn |
| May 25-28, 2006 | Birmingham | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (2nd Match) | ENG won by 6 wickets |
| May 02-05, 2006 | Nottingham | ENG vs SL – 3 Test series (3rd Match) | SL won by 134 runs |
| Dec 01-05, 2007 | Kandy | SL vs ENG- 3 Test series (1st Match) | SL won by 134 runs |
| Dec 09-13, 2007 | Colombo (SSC) | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (2nd Match) | Match Drawn |
| Dec 18-22, 2007 | Galle | SL vs ENG – 3 Test series (3rd Match) | Match Drawn |
The decade featured 15 Test matches with England winning 5, Sri Lanka winning 4, and 6 ending in draws. The quality of cricket was exceptional, with many matches going down to the wire.
T20i Matches
| Date | Venue | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2006 | Southampton | ENG vs SL- Only T20i | SL won by 2 Runs |
| May 13, 2010 | Gros Islet | ICC T20 World Cup | ENG won by 7 wickets |
T20 cricket made its debut during this period, adding a new dimension to their rivalry with explosive batting and innovative bowling strategies.
ENG vs SL Timeline 2011 to 2020
This decade marked England’s resurgence as a dominant force in world cricket. They won both the ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup during this period.
Test Matches
England played 13 Test matches against Sri Lanka, winning 7, losing 2, and drawing 4. The standout series was England’s 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in 2018, demonstrating their improved away performance.
ENG vs SL Timeline 2021 to Present
Recent years have seen England’s complete dominance across all formats, leaving Sri Lanka searching for answers to their current struggles.
Test Matches
| Date | Venue | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14, 2021 | Galle | SL vs ENG- 2 Test Series (1st Match) | ENG won by 7 wickets |
| Jan 22, 2021 | Galle | SL vs ENG- 2 Test Series (2nd Match) | ENG won by 6 wickets |
| Aug 21, 2024 | Manchester | ENG vs SL- 3 Test Series (1st Match) | ENG won by 5 wickets |
| Aug 29, 2024 | Lords | ENG vs SL- 3 Test Series (2nd Match) | ENG won by 190 runs |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs England National Cricket Team Stats
| Tournament | Matches | England Won | Sri Lanka Won | Draw/Tie/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI World Cup | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| T20 World Cup | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Champions Trophy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
ENG vs SL Head-to-Head (All Formats)
| Format | Matches | ENG Wins | SL Wins | D/T/NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Formats | 131 | 67 | 49 | 15 |
| Test | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| ODI | 79 | 38 | 37 | 4 |
| T20I | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
ENG vs SL Records (Test)
Highest Totals in an Innings
| Runs | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 628/8d | Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | 2003 |
| 591 | Sri Lanka | The Oval | 1998 |
| 575/9d | England | Lord’s | 2014 |
Lowest Totals in an Innings
| Runs | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | England | Galle | 2007 |
| 81 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | 2001 |
| 82 | Sri Lanka | Cardiff | 2011 |
Individual Records
Most Runs by Individuals:
| Runs | Player | Career Span |
|---|---|---|
| 2212 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1998-2014 |
| 1568 | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 2001-2014 |
| 1351 | Joe Root (ENG) | 2014-2024 |
Highest Individual Score:
| Runs | Player | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | Joe Root (ENG) | Galle | Jan 14, 2021 |
| 213* | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | Galle | Dec 18, 2007 |
| 213 | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | The Oval | Aug 27, 1998 |
Most Wickets:
| Wickets | Player | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 16 | 20.06 |
| 58 | James Anderson (ENG) | 14 | 22.18 |
| 49 | Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 49 | 31.36 |
ENG vs SL Records (ODIs)
Highest Innings Total
| Score | Team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 366/6 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | Oct 23, 2018 |
| 333/9 | England | Taunton | Jun 11, 1983 |
| 324/2 | Sri Lanka | Leeds | Jul 1, 2006 |
Lowest Innings Total
| Score | Team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | Sri Lanka | Manchester | May 28, 2014 |
| 88 | England | Dambulla | Nov 18, 2003 |
| 99 | Sri Lanka | Perth | Jan 29, 1999 |
Most Runs (Individual):
| Runs | Player | Career Span |
|---|---|---|
| 1625 | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 2001-2015 |
| 1562 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1999-2015 |
| 1195 | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1992-2011 |
Highest Individual Score:
| Runs | Player | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162 | Jason Roy (ENG) | The Oval | Jun 29, 2016 |
| 152 | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | Leeds | Jul 01, 2006 |
| 144 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | Leeds | Jul 01, 2011 |
ENG vs SL Records (T20Is)
Highest Innings Total
| Score | Team | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 190/4 | England | Chattogram | Mar 27, 2014 |
| 189/4 | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | Mar 27, 2014 |
| 187/8 | England | Colombo (RPS) | Oct 27, 2018 |
Individual Records:
| Runs | Player | Career Span |
|---|---|---|
| 385 | Jos Buttler (ENG) | 2012-2022 |
| 253 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 2010-2021 |
| 236 | Alex Hales (ENG) | 2012-2022 |
Highest Individual Score:
| Runs | Player | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 116* | Alex Hales (ENG) | Chattogram | Mar 27, 2014 |
| 101* | Jos Buttler (ENG) | Sharjah | Nov 01, 2021 |
| 89 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | Chattogram | Mar 27, 2014 |
FAQs:
- Q: When did these teams first play against each other?
A: England and Sri Lanka first played in February 1982 in Colombo, marking the beginning of their cricket rivalry.
- Q: Which team has the better overall record?
A: England leads with 67 victories compared to Sri Lanka’s 49 wins across all formats.
- Q: What is the most runs scored by a team in a single innings?
A: Sri Lanka holds the record with 628/8 declared at Colombo in 2003.
- Q: Who has scored the most runs in this rivalry?
A: Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka leads with 2,212 Test runs.
- Q: Which format has been most competitive?
A: ODI cricket shows the closest competition, with England winning 38 and Sri Lanka 37 matches.
- Q: Who is the leading wicket-taker?
A: Muthiah Muralidaran dominates with 112 Test wickets at an average of 20.06.
Conclusion:
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline represents one of cricket’s most fascinating evolution stories.
Starting in 1982 with Sri Lanka as complete newcomers, this rivalry has developed into a rich tapestry of memorable matches, outstanding individual performances, and dramatic moments that have captivated cricket fans for over four decades.
This timeline showcases how cricket can bring together nations and create lasting sporting legacies.
From Muthiah Muralidaran’s magical spin bowling to Joe Root’s recent batting mastery, from Sri Lanka’s early struggles to their World Cup triumphs, and England’s traditional dominance to their modern-day resurgence, every chapter has added something special to cricket history.
While England currently holds the upper hand, cricket’s unpredictable nature means that future chapters of this rivalry could bring new surprises.
As both teams continue to develop young talent and evolve their playing styles, the Sri Lanka national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline will undoubtedly continue entertaining cricket lovers around the world for many years to come.
