Cricket lovers around the world know that some of the most exciting matches happen when two passionate teams meet on the field.
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline tells us an amazing story that began over four decades ago and continues to create unforgettable memories for cricket fans everywhere.
When we explore the SL national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline, we discover how two very different cricket nations came together to create something special.
England brought their rich cricket heritage, traditional playing style, and years of international experience.
Sri Lanka entered this rivalry as enthusiastic newcomers who were eager to prove themselves on the global stage. Together, they have written some of cricket’s most exciting chapters.
The beauty of the SL national cricket team vs eng cricket team timeline lies in its diversity.
Test cricket has given us the most dramatic and intense battles, with matches lasting up to five days and testing every skill a cricketer possesses.
One Day International cricket brought faster action and more decisive results, perfect for fans who wanted excitement in a single day.
Twenty20 cricket later added explosive entertainment with big hits, spectacular catches, and games decided in just a few hours.
Contents
- 1 Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Timeline
- 1.1 Origins of the ENG vs SL
- 1.2 ENG vs SL Timeline between 1980 to 1990
- 1.3 Test Matches
- 1.4 ODI Matches
- 1.5 ENG vs SL Timeline between 1990 to 2000
- 1.6 Test Matches
- 1.7 ODI Matches
- 1.8 ENG vs SL Timeline between 2001 to 2010
- 1.9 Test Matches
- 1.10 T20i Matches
- 1.11 ENG vs SL Timeline 2011 to 2020
- 1.12 Test Matches
- 1.13 ENG vs SL Timeline 2021 to Present
- 1.14 Test Matches
- 1.15 Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs England National Cricket Team Stats
- 1.16 ENG vs SL Head-to-Head (All Formats)
- 1.17 ENG vs SL Records (Test)
- 1.18 Highest Totals in an Innings
- 1.19 Lowest Totals in an Innings
- 1.20 Individual Records
- 1.21 ENG vs SL Records (ODIs)
- 1.22 Highest Innings Total
- 1.23 Lowest Innings Total
- 1.24 ENG vs SL Records (T20Is)
- 1.25 Highest Innings Total
- 1.26 FAQs:
- 1.27 Conclusion:
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Timeline
This timeline showcases how cricket can bring people together and create lasting friendships between nations.
From legendary players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene representing Sri Lanka to Alastair Cook and Joe Root leading England, each era has contributed unique stories to this wonderful rivalry.
Whether you’re just starting to learn about cricket or have been following it for years, this journey through time will help you appreciate the special bond these two teams have created.
Origins of the ENG vs SL
The cricket story between England and Sri Lanka started with a historic moment in February 1982. This wasn’t just another cricket match; it was the beginning of a relationship that would span decades and create countless magical moments on cricket fields around the world.
| First Meeting Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of First ODI | February 13, 1982 |
| Ground | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| England’s Total | 212 runs |
| Sri Lanka’s Total | 206/8 runs (45 overs) |
| Result | England won by 5 runs |
| Significance | Sri Lanka’s first-ever ODI match |
This maiden encounter was thrilling from start to finish. England posted what seemed like a challenging total of 212 runs. Sri Lanka, playing their very first international ODI, showed incredible courage and skill by reaching 206 runs before losing their eighth wicket. They came incredibly close to winning their debut match, missing victory by just 5 runs. However, the next day brought even more excitement when Sri Lanka achieved their first-ever ODI victory by beating England by 3 runs. This early success gave Sri Lankan cricket the confidence boost it needed to believe in its abilities.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 1980 to 1990
The 1980s represented the learning phase for Sri Lankan cricket. During this decade, they were still finding their feet in international cricket while England was already a well-established force with decades of experience.
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 clearly showed England’s superiority. However, for Sri Lanka, simply playing at venues like Lord’s Cricket Ground was a tremendous achievement and valuable learning experience.
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 |
During the entire 1980s decade, these teams met in 6 ODI battles. England demonstrated their experience by winning 5 matches, while Sri Lanka managed to secure 1 precious victory. Despite the lopsided results, Sri Lanka’s participation in major tournaments like the World Cup was building the foundation for future success.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 1990 to 2000
The 1990s became the breakthrough decade for Sri Lankan cricket. This period witnessed their transformation from learning participants to serious contenders who could challenge any team in the world.
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 defining moment arrived in March 1993 when Sri Lanka secured their first-ever Test victory against England at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. This historic win gave them the confidence to believe they belonged at the highest level. Five years later, they proved it wasn’t a fluke by dominating England at The Oval in London, winning by 10 wickets.
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 |
The 1990s saw these teams clash in 17 exciting ODI encounters. The results became much more balanced with England edging ahead with 9 victories while Sri Lanka claimed 8 wins. This decade established Sri Lanka as a genuine competitor rather than just an enthusiastic participant.
ENG vs SL Timeline between 2001 to 2010
This era is fondly remembered as the “Platinum Period” of their rivalry. Both teams reached new heights during this decade, producing world-class cricket that entertained fans globally.
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 |
This decade featured 15 memorable Test encounters. England secured 5 victories, Sri Lanka claimed 4 wins, and 6 matches ended in draws. The cricket quality was absolutely exceptional, with many games providing nail-biting finishes.
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 |
Twenty20 cricket made its exciting debut during this period, introducing power-hitting, innovative field placements, and games that could change dramatically in just a few overs.
ENG vs SL Timeline 2011 to 2020
This decade marked England’s golden renaissance in cricket. They transformed their approach across all formats and achieved remarkable success, including winning both the Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup.
Test Matches
During this period, England played 13 Test matches against Sri Lanka, achieving 7 victories, suffering 2 defeats, and drawing 4 matches. The highlight was England’s spectacular 3-0 series victory in Sri Lanka during 2018, proving they had developed into a formidable touring side.
ENG vs SL Timeline 2021 to Present
Recent years have showcased England’s current dominance across all cricket formats, leaving Sri Lanka working hard to find solutions and rebuild their competitive edge.
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 | Active Period |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Active Period |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Active Period |
|---|---|---|
| 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 this cricket rivalry begin?
A: The rivalry started in February 1982 when Sri Lanka played their first-ever ODI against England in Colombo.
- Q: Which team has been more successful overall?
A: England has the advantage with 67 total victories compared to Sri Lanka’s 49 wins across all formats.
- Q: What’s the highest score ever made in their Test matches?
A: Sri Lanka holds the record with 628/8 declared scored at Colombo in 2003.
- Q: Who has the most runs in this rivalry?
A: Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka leads with 2,212 Test runs between 1998-2014.
- Q: Which cricket format has been most competitive?
A: ODI matches show the closest competition, with England winning 38 and Sri Lanka winning 37.
- Q: Who has taken the most wickets?
A: Muthiah Muralidaran dominates with 112 Test wickets at an exceptional average of 20.06.
Conclusion:
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline represents more than just cricket statistics and match results.
It’s a beautiful story of how sport can bring different cultures together and create lasting memories that transcend boundaries.
From Sri Lanka’s humble beginnings in 1982 to their rise as world champions, and from England’s traditional dominance to their modern cricket revolution, every chapter has added something precious to this ongoing saga.
This timeline shows us that cricket is about more than winning and losing. It’s about respect, friendship, and the pure joy of watching talented athletes compete at the highest level.
Legendary players from both countries have entertained millions of fans with their skills, creating moments that will be remembered forever.
As we look toward the future, both teams continue to develop exciting young talent who will write new chapters in this wonderful story.
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs England cricket team timeline will keep growing, adding more thrilling matches, outstanding performances, and unforgettable moments for cricket lovers around the world to enjoy and celebrate for generations to come.
