Sri Lanka is one of the twelve nations that take part in Test cricket and one of the six nations that has won a cricket World Cup. Cricket is played at professional, semi-professional and recreational levels in the country and international cricket matches are watched with interest by a large proportion of the population.
Cricket was brought to the nation when it was colonized by the British. As everywhere that the British arrived in numbers, cricket soon followed and it is reasonable to assume that the game was first played on the island by 1800. The earliest definite mention of cricket in Ceylon was a report in the Colombo Journal on 5 September 1832 which called for the formation of a cricket club. The Colombo Cricket Club was formed soon afterwards and matches began in November 1833 when it played against the 97th Regiment.[1]
The first recorded match dates back to 1832 as reported in The Colombo Journal.[2] 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.[3]
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.[8] Eventually they won the three-match Test series, 1–0.[9] 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.[10] This was immediately followed by a one-wicket victory against England in a one-Test series.[11]
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.[12] This win also resulted in their first overseas Test series victory, 1–0.[13] Their next series too was an overseas series, against Pakistan, and that one too resulted in Sri Lankan victory.[14]
Sri Lanka registered their first ODI win against India at Old Trafford, England on 16 June 1979.[15]
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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]
On 4 August 2016, they played their 250th Test match when they played Australia in Galle.[19] They won the match by 229 runs,[20] 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.[21]
Until 2017, Sri Lanka had whitewashed Zimbabwe three times, Bangladesh once and Australia once in Test cricket.[citation needed]
Sri Lanka played their first day-night Test match on 6 October 2017 against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.[22][23][24] 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 a five-wicket haul in a day-night Test.[25]
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.[28] Sri Lanka has registered more wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh than any other team, with 14.[28] In ODI matches, Sri Lanka have played against 17 teams; they have played against India most frequently, with a winning percentage of 39.49 in 149 matches.[29] Within usual major ODI nations, Sri Lanka have defeated England on 34 occasions, which is their best record in ODIs.[29] 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.[30] 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 29 January 2024, Sri Lanka have played 313 Test matches; they have won 100 matches, lost 121 matches, and 92 matches were drawn.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33]
From 8 July 2017 to 23 October 2017, Sri Lanka lost twelve consecutive ODI matches, which is their second-longest losing run in ODIs.[34][35] 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).[36]
On 9 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.[37] In July 2021, Sri Lanka won T20I series against India 2–1, recording their first ever bilateral T20I series win against India.[38]
On 4 March 2022, Sri Lanka played their 300th Test match in Mohaliagainst India.[39] Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 222 runs.[40] Amid political turmoil back home, Sri Lanka won the 2022 Asia Cup, defeating Pakistan in the final on 11 September 2022.[41]
On 28 April 2023, Sri Lanka won their 100th Test match against Ireland at Galle. They won the test series 2–0. They became the 8th test nation to reach this milestone.
Sri Lanka cricket was suspended, by the ICC on 10 November 2023 due to the alleged political interference with the cricket administration.[42] The suspension was fully lifted on 28 January 2024.[43]
The Sri Lanka national cricket team is governed by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and is a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Since 1981, the SLC has been affiliated with ICC, the international governing body for world cricket. In 1983, the SLC became one of the founding members of the ACC.
The Sri Lankan women's cricket team is the team that represents Sri Lanka in international women's cricket matches. Sri Lankan women's cricket team's international debut came in 1997 with a three match ODI series against the Netherlands.[44] Since then, the team has represented Sri Lanka in international women's cricket tournaments.
International cricket in Sri Lanka generally does not follow a fixed pattern. For example, the English schedule under which the nation tours other countries during the winter and plays at home during the summer. Generally, there has recently been a tendency to play more one-day matches than Test matches. Cricket in Sri Lanka is managed by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Sri Lanka have been participating in international cricket since 1975 and competed in international tournament since the first ever the 1975 Cricket World Cup. They have competed in numerous tournaments over the years including the ACC tournaments. The Sri Lanka national cricket team has also provided some of the greatest players to the world, the biggest example of which is Kumar Sangakkara. Sri Lanka cricket has a rich history. The Sri Lanka men's national team is currently ranked No. 6 in Tests, No. 6 in ODIs and at 8th position in T20Is. Sri Lanka won two World Championship cups in 1996 under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga.
Test International- Mahela Jayawardene batting in a Test match for Sri Lanka in 2008Sri Lanka obtained Full Member status of the ICC in 1981, becoming the eighth nation eligible to play Test cricket.[45] The Sri Lanka national cricket team played their first Test match on 17 February 1982, against England, and recorded their first victory on 6 September 1985, in a match against India.[46] Since then, they have played nearly 300 matches, against every other Test-playing nation.[47] Sri Lanka holds the world record for the highest team score, which was established against India in 1997.[48] The highest partnership in Test cricket was also established by two Sri Lankan batsmen; Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.[49] Sri Lankan players also hold the highest partnership scores for the second and third wickets.[50]Top order batsman and former captain Kumar Sangakkara holds several Sri Lankan batting records as he has scored the most runs for Sri Lanka in Test cricket. He is also the record holder for the highest number of centuries as well as the highest number of half-centuries. The 374 made by Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006 is the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan cricketer, surpassing the previous best of 340 by Sanath Jayasuriya, which was established in 1997.[51] It is also the fourth-highest individual score in Test cricket. Jayawardene, Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara [319] are the only Sri Lankan players who have scored triple centuries.[52]
One Day International- Kumar Sangakkara batting against England in 2014 at the R.Premadasa Stadium in ColomboSri Lanka played their first ODI International in 1975 against West Indies . They were able to participate in first edition of Cricket World Cup. Later 1996, they clinch the ODI world cup title under Arjuna Ranatunga captaincy.
T20 International- Sri Lanka played their first T20 International in 2006 against England. Sri Lanka have made great impact in T20 international from their early day of this format. They have also been able to clinch the T20 world cup title in year 2014.
Sri Lanka have been participating in international cricket since 1997 and competed in international tournament since 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup. They have competed in numerous tournaments over the years including the ACC tournaments. They are the second most successful women's cricket team in Asia. The Sri Lanka Women's national team is also currently ranked No. 5 in ODIs and at 7th position in T20Is.
Test International- Sri Lanka made their debut as a Test playing nation in 1998 against Pakistan. In past time, Sri Lanka women's rarely play test and won it
One Day International-Sri Lanka played their first ODI International in 1997 against Netherlands. They were not able to participate in first five edition of Women's Cricket World Cup. But from late 19s they have been reaching to ODI world cup consequently.
T20 International- Sri Lanka played their first T20 International in 2009 against Pakistan. Sri Lanka Women's have made great impact in T20 international from their early day of this format. They have been reaching ICC Women's T20 World Cup consequently from first Edition.
The National Super League (NSL) is an inter-city tournament, in which each city is assigned a set of cricket clubs, where the best players are selected to play for each city, it covers all three formats (First Class, List A and T20), the tournament has a women's version.
First-class Tournament - National Super League (NSL):
Several competitions have been arranged where teams were formed out of each of the major provinces, independent to the above clubs (these tournaments are defunct and are replaced with the National Super League):
Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) (2012) was a Twenty20 cricket competition in Sri Lanka. It was intended to be the premier Twenty20 league in the country, held by Sri Lanka Cricket, when it replaced the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 competition.
Super Four Provincial (2017-2018) Consisted of 4 teams (Colombo, Dambulla, Galle, and Kandy)
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