The cricket rivalry between the England cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team timeline has had some twists and turns, some great games, and some exciting players come through during their timeline. This timeline will look at matches played between England and Sri Lanka starting with their first Test match in 1982 and World Cup matches. Also exciting finish and matches played by them both. The England vs Sri Lanka Cricket Timeline will help fans remember the most important matches, the pathway taken by both teams and the players who helped make this cricket rivalry alive.
England Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline 1982 The Early Years
The first Test match played between England and Sri Lanka was in 1982. England won the match, but it was just the beginning of a long and interesting rivalry. Sri Lanka became a Test nation in the early 1980s and quickly established themselves as a tough and fearless cricket team.
Gaining Strength in 1990s: England vs Sri Lanka
At the end of the 1990s, Sri Lanka began to take on England more decisively. They shocked a number of cricket fans in the UK by winning games both back home and in England itself. One of the biggest upsets came in 1998 when Sri Lanka played England on English soil and won.
Read Also: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Timeline: IPL 2013 to 2015
England vs Sri Lanka: Iconic Moments
- 1996 World Cup: Sri Lanka beat England in an important match and subsequently went on to win the World Cup.
- Muttiah Muralitharan’s Records: Sri Lankan bowling great had match-defining performances against England and sometimes broke world records in the process (most wickets in career, etc).
- The series’ were often close: Many of the series have ended in close matches with edgy finishes that had fans on the edge of their seats.
England vs Sri Lanka: Recent Matches
In the last decade, the two sides continue to win series home and away. England and Sri Lanka have played each other in every format of the game: Tests, ODIs and T20s. Recent highlights include:
- England completed 3-0 win in the Test series played in Sri Lanka in 2018-19.
- Sri Lanka won a Test series in England for the first time in 2014.
England vs Sri Lanka Test Match Series
| Series/Tournament | Season | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| England in Sri Lanka Test Match | 1981/82 | England | 1-0 (1) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Match | 1984 | Drawn | 0-0 (1) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Match | 1988 | England | 1-0 (1) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Match | 1991 | England | 1-0 (1) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Match | 1992/93 | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (1) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Match | 1998 | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (1) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2000/01 | England | 2-1 (3) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2002 | England | 2-0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2003/04 | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (3) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2006 | Drawn | 1-1 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2007/08 | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (3) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2011 | England | 1-0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2011/12 | Drawn | 1-1 (2) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2014 | Sri Lanka | 1-0 (2) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2016 | England | 2-0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2018/19 | England | 3-0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka Test Series | 2020/21 | England | 2-0 (2) |
| Sri Lanka in England Test Series | 2024 | England | 2-1 (3) |
Sri Lanka vs England in ODI
| Series/Tournament | Season | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 1981/82 | Drawn | 1–1 (2) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 1992/93 | Sri Lanka | 2–0 (2) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 2000/01 | Sri Lanka | 3–0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 2003/04 | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (3) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 2007/08 | England | 3–2 (5) |
| Sri Lanka in England ODI Series | 2014 | Sri Lanka | 3–2 (5) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 2014/15 | Sri Lanka | 5–2 (7) |
| Sri Lanka in England ODI Series | 2016 | England | 3–0 (5) |
| England in Sri Lanka ODI Series | 2018/19 | England | 3–1 (5) |
| Sri Lanka in England ODI Series | 2021 | England | 2–0 (3) |
England vs Sri Lanka in T20i
| Season | Series/Tournament | Winner | Margin |
| 1981/82 | England in Sri Lanka Test Match | England | 1–0 (1) |
| 1984 | Sri Lanka in England Test Match | Drawn | 0–0 (1) |
| 1988 | Sri Lanka in England Test Match | England | 1–0 (1) |
| 1991 | Sri Lanka in England Test Match | England | 1–0 (1) |
| 1992/93 | England in Sri Lanka Test Match | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (1) |
| 1998 | Sri Lanka in England Test Match | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (1) |
| 2000/01 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | England | 2–1 (3) |
| 2002 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | England | 2–0 (3) |
| 2003/04 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (3) |
| 2006 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | Drawn | 1–1 (3) |
| 2007/08 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (3) |
| 2011 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | England | 1–0 (3) |
| 2011/12 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | Drawn | 1–1 (2) |
| 2014 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | Sri Lanka | 1–0 (2) |
| 2016 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | England | 2–0 (3) |
| 2018/19 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | England | 3–0 (3) |
| 2020/21 | England in Sri Lanka Test Series | England | 2–0 (2) |
| 2024 | Sri Lanka in England Test Series | England | 2–1 (3) |
Read Also: T20 World Cup Winners List Year Wise (Men)- Complete World Cup History 2007 to 2024
England vs Sri Lanka: Current Stats
They have now completed dozens of Test matches. England has won the majority, while Sri Lanka has won some very important ones-especially in 1998 and 2014 in England. In the ODIs and T20s both have had exciting wins.
Most Famous Players
| England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Ian Botham | Kumar Sangakkara |
| Joe Root | Mahela Jayawardene |
| Alastair Cook | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| James Anderson | Aravinda de Silva |
What Makes This Rivalry Special?
Every match has stories of sportsmanship, tough battles, and unforgettable moments. The rivalry helped both teams measure their performance and provided fans around the globe, with some magical cricket memories. The battles with England have provided the cricketing world with:
- exciting games
- new record-breaking scores
- truly epic dramatic moments
And this timeline has been a rich part of our cricketing history.
FAQs:
When did England v Sri Lanka play their first Test match?
Ans- England and Sri Lanka played their first Test match in 1982.
Which team won the famous 1998 Test match in England?
Ans- Sri Lanka won the 1998 Test match at The Oval in England, a historic victory for Sri Lankan cricket.
Who are some star players from both teams in this rivalry?
Ans- For England: Joe Root, Ian Botham, Alastair Cook, and James Anderson, and for Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Aravinda de Silva.
What was Sri Lanka’s most memorable win against England?
Ans- Sri Lanka’s first ever series win in England came in 2014. They also achieved a famous run chase at The Oval, led by Pathum Nissanka, to avoid a whitewash.
