sri lanka national cricket team vs australian men’s cricket team timeline
Introduction
The rivalry between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team is one of the most fascinating stories in international cricket. It began in the early 1980s when Sri Lanka, a newly crowned Test-playing nation, first faced the mighty Australians. Over the years, this rivalry has evolved into a contest of contrasts—Australia’s fierce pace bowling and aggressive batting against Sri Lanka’s spin dominance and flair. Their encounters have produced legendary matches, from thrilling Test series to unforgettable ODI World Cup finals and high-voltage T20 clashes. Iconic moments like Sri Lanka’s victory in the 1996 World Cup final and Australia’s dominance in the 2007 final have added historic weight to this rivalry. It is a battle of experience versus passion, tradition versus resilience, and power versus precision.
This Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline provides a complete journey from their first match to 2025, covering key milestones, match results, legendary performances, and the evolving nature of their cricketing relationship.
Table of Contents
Sri Lanka vs Australia: Complete Match Timeline
| 1983 | ODI | Old Trafford, England | Australia | David Boon (65), Geoff Lawson (3/33) | Australia won by 1 wicket |
| 1984 | Test | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Australia | Greg Chappell (82), Jeff Thomson (5/54) | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 1989 | ODI | Sharjah, UAE | Australia | Dean Jones (74), Craig McDermott (3/25) | Australia won by 6 wickets |
| 1992 | ODI | Sydney, Australia | Sri Lanka | Arjuna Ranatunga (53*), Arjuna Ranatunga (2/27) | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets |
| 1995 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Aravinda de Silva (71), Muttiah Muralitharan (3/38) | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 1996 | ODI (WC) | Lahore, Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Aravinda de Silva (107*), Chaminda Vaas (3/46) | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
| 1999 | ODI (WC) | Lord’s, England | Australia | Ricky Ponting (45), Glenn McGrath (3/34) | Australia won by 44 runs |
| 2002 | ODI | Dambulla, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sanath Jayasuriya (78), Chaminda Vaas (3/39) | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 2003 | ODI (WC) | Johannesburg, South Africa | Australia | Adam Gilchrist (57), Glenn McGrath (4/20) | Australia won by 126 runs |
| 2004 | Test | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | Matthew Hayden (116), Glenn McGrath (5/42) | Australia won by 122 runs |
| 2004 | Test | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Australia | Ricky Ponting (114), Jason Gillespie (5/43) | Australia won by 9 wickets |
| 2004 | Test | Colombo (SSC), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Kumar Sangakkara (105), Chaminda Vaas (5/81) | Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets |
| 2004 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Marvan Atapattu (93), Muttiah Muralitharan (4/34) | Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets |
| 2007 | ODI | Melbourne, Australia | Australia | Brad Hodge (75), Brett Lee (3/44) | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| 2007 | T20I | Melbourne, Australia | Australia | Shane Watson (59), Brett Lee (3/20) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2008 | ODI | Melbourne, Australia | Australia | Michael Hussey (78*), Mitchell Johnson (3/39) | Australia won by 6 wickets |
| 2011 | ODI (WC) | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | India (NRR) | Tillakaratne Dilshan (144), Lasith Malinga (3/43) | Australia advanced; SL eliminated |
| 2012 | Test | Pallekele, Sri Lanka | Australia | Michael Clarke (230), Ben Hilfenhaus (5/75) | Australia won by 136 runs |
| 2012 | Test | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Kumar Sangakkara (147), Prasanna Jayawardene (5/61) | Sri Lanka won by 211 runs |
| 2012 | Test | Colombo (SSC), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Mahela Jayawardene (150), Rangana Herath (5/74) | Sri Lanka won by 107 runs |
| 2012 | ODI | Pallekele, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Tillakaratne Dilshan (107), Nuwan Kulasekara (3/44) | Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets |
| 2013 | ODI | Melbourne, Australia | Australia | David Warner (163), James Faulkner (3/44) | Australia won by 15 runs |
| 2016 | T20I | Pallekele, Sri Lanka | Australia | Glenn Maxwell (57), Andrew Tye (3/26) | Australia won by 39 runs |
| 2017 | ODI | Pallekele, Sri Lanka | Australia | Aaron Finch (114), Pat Cummins (3/39) | Australia won by 146 runs |
| 2019 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Avishka Fernando (62), Lasith Embuldeniya (4/48) | Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets |
| 2020 | ODI | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Kusal Mendis (74), Lasith Embuldeniya (4/45) | Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | ODI | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | David Warner (123), Adam Zampa (3/48) | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 2022 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Australia | Steve Smith (80), Pat Cummins (3/43) | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| 2022 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Australia | Marnus Labuschagne (64), Adam Zampa (3/37) | Australia won by 6 wickets |
| 2023 | Test | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | Steve Smith (121), Nathan Lyon (5/43) | Australia won by 239 runs |
| 2023 | Test | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | Usman Khawaja (195), Mitchell Starc (5/66) | Australia won by an innings & 242 runs |
| 2023 | T20I | Galle, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Bhanuka Rajapaksa (53), Maheesh Theekshana (3/24) | Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets |
| 2023 | T20I | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | Tim David (64), Adam Zampa (3/29) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2023 | T20I | Galle, Sri Lanka | Australia | Cameron Green (52*), Pat Cummins (3/32) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Australia | Travis Head (98), Josh Hazlewood (3/37) | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Pathum Nissanka (112), Wanindu Hasaranga (4/41) | Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI | Colombo (RPS), Sri Lanka | Australia | Steve Smith (76), Adam Zampa (3/39) | Australia won by 4 wickets |
| 2025 | Test | Brisbane, Australia | TBC | TBC | Series ongoing |
| 2025 | Test | Adelaide, Australia | TBC | TBC | Series ongoing |
| 2025 | Test | Melbourne, Australia | TBC | TBC | Series ongoing |
Head-to-Head Records
Test Matches
Since their first Test in 1983, the two teams have played around 35 Tests. Australia has historically dominated, winning 22 matches, while Sri Lanka has managed around 5 wins, and 8 have ended in draws. However, notable exceptions include the 2016 series, where Sri Lanka famously whitewashed Australia 3–0 at home, and the 2022 series, which ended in a 1–1 draw, proving that the hosts have significantly improved their home performance against the Aussies.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
In ODIs, the rivalry has been more balanced. Out of over 105 matches, Australia has won approximately 64, Sri Lanka has won around 38, and the rest were no results. Memorable moments include the 1996 World Cup final, where Sri Lanka stunned the world with a dominant chase, and the 2007 final, where Adam Gilchrist’s blazing century handed Australia another World Cup trophy. Recently, in 2025, Sri Lanka humiliated Australia by 174 runs, one of their heaviest defeats in ODI history.
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
The teams have met about 27 times in T20Is, with Australia winning 17 and Sri Lanka 10. While less frequent than ODIs and Tests, these matches have often been high-scoring thrillers, with both teams testing their young talent and explosive batters.
Key Historic Matches
1996 World Cup Final
The 1996 World Cup final in Lahore is one of the greatest moments in Sri Lankan cricket history. Chasing 242, Aravinda de Silva’s unbeaten 107 and his crucial wickets powered Sri Lanka to a historic seven-wicket win, marking their first-ever World Cup victory and shaking the cricketing world.
2007 World Cup Final
In 2007, the teams met again in a World Cup final, but this time Australia dominated. Adam Gilchrist’s 149 remains one of the greatest World Cup final innings, helping Australia lift their third consecutive title. Sri Lanka fought bravely but fell short under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
2016 Test Series Whitewash
Sri Lanka’s 3–0 whitewash over Australia in 2016 was a landmark moment in their Test history. Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Rangana Herath played starring roles as Sri Lanka outclassed the Aussies in their own spin-friendly conditions.
2022 Galle Test Victory
In 2022, after losing the first Test, Sri Lanka bounced back strongly in Galle to level the series 1–1. Dinesh Chandimal’s double century (206) and Prabath Jayasuriya’s six-wicket haul showcased the team’s resilience and growing strength at home.
2025 ODI Upset
One of the most recent iconic clashes came in 2025, when Sri Lanka defeated Australia by a massive 174-run margin in an ODI. Kusal Mendis scored a century, while Dunith Wellalage’s 4/35 dismantled the Australian lineup, proving that Sri Lanka remains a dangerous force in limited-overs cricket.
Memorable Performances and Legendary Contributions
The Sri Lanka vs Australia rivalry has featured some of cricket’s finest individual performances:
- Aravinda de Silva’s all-round heroics in 1996 remain legendary.
- Adam Gilchrist’s 149 in 2007 is considered one of the greatest ODI knocks.
- Rangana Herath’s spin dominance in 2016 played a key role in the whitewash.
- Dinesh Chandimal’s double ton in 2022 turned the tide of a Test series.
- Usman Khawaja’s 295 runs and Matt Kuhnemann’s 16 wickets in 2024–25 highlighted Australia’s recent strength.
- Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka have become the new faces of Sri Lanka’s resurgence in limited overs.
Recent Matches (2023, 2024, and 2025)
In the last few years, the rivalry has intensified with frequent encounters:
- The 2022 Test series was drawn 1–1, marking a competitive phase.
- The 2024–25 series saw Australia dominate the Tests 2–0 but lose the ODI series 2–0.
- In early 2025, Sri Lanka delivered a record-breaking ODI win, while Australia recorded a massive Test victory in Galle, their biggest in Asia.
This period reflects a rivalry in flux—Australia maintaining Test superiority, while Sri Lanka grows stronger in the shorter formats.
Future Fixtures and Predictions
As the Sri Lanka vs Australia timeline moves forward, several factors shape its future:
- Sri Lanka’s young spin attack, led by players like Dunith Wellalage and Prabath Jayasuriya, will continue to challenge Australia on turning tracks.
- Australia’s depth in batting and pace, with experienced players like Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith still contributing, keeps them favorites in longer formats.
- Future series are expected to be closely fought, with Sri Lanka likely to dominate ODIs at home and Australia holding an edge in Tests abroad.
Predictions suggest that if these teams meet in the upcoming ICC events, fans can expect another round of thrilling, high-stakes encounters.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline is a chronicle of evolving cricketing eras, from Sri Lanka’s underdog triumphs to Australia’s relentless dominance. Over four decades, this rivalry has delivered unforgettable finals, historic whitewashes, iconic centuries, and fierce contests across formats.
As of 2025, Australia leads in overall head-to-head numbers, but Sri Lanka has proven they can rise to the occasion, especially at home and in one-day cricket. With both teams developing young talent and gearing up for future ICC tournaments, the next chapter of this rivalry promises to be as exciting as its past.
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