Sri Lanka national cricket team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | The Lions | ||||||||||||
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| Association | Sri Lanka Cricket | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
| Test captain | Dhananjaya De Silva | ||||||||||||
| One Day captain | Charith Asalanka | ||||||||||||
| T20I captain | Charith Asalanka | ||||||||||||
| Coach | Sanath Jayasuriya | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
| Test status acquired | 1981 | ||||||||||||
| International Cricket Council | |||||||||||||
| ICC status | Associate Member (1965) Full Member (1981) |
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| ICC region | Asia | ||||||||||||
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| Tests | |||||||||||||
| First Test | v  England at P. Sara Oval, Colombo; 17–21 February 1982 |
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| Last Test | v  New Zealand at Galle International Stadium, Galle; 26–29 September 2024 |
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| World Test Championship appearances | 2 (first in 2021) | ||||||||||||
| Best result | 5th place (2023) | ||||||||||||
| One Day Internationals | |||||||||||||
| First ODI | v  West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester; 7 June 1975 |
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| Last ODI | v New Zealand at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele; 19 November 2024 |
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| World Cup appearances | 13 (first in 1975) | ||||||||||||
| Best result |  Champions (1996) |
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| World Cup Qualifier appearances | 2 (first in 1979) | ||||||||||||
| Best result | Champions (1979, 2023) |
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| Twenty20 Internationals | |||||||||||||
| First T20I | v England at The Rose Bowl, Southampton; 15 June 2006 |
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| Last T20I | v New Zealand at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla; 10 November 2024 |
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| T20 World Cup appearances | 8 (first in 2007) | ||||||||||||
| Best result | Champions (2014) |
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| As of 19 November 2024 | |||||||||||||
The Sri Lanka men's national cricket team, also known as The Lions, represents Sri Lanka in international cricket games. They are a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). This means they can play all three main types of international cricket: Test, One-Day International (ODI), and T20 International (T20I) matches.
Cricket came to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) in 1832. The team first played first-class cricket in 1926–27. Sri Lanka became an associate member of the ICC in 1965. They played their first international match in the 1975 Cricket World Cup. In 1981, Sri Lanka became the eighth country to get Test status. The team is managed by Sri Lanka Cricket.
The Sri Lankan cricket team became very successful in the 1990s. They went from being an underdog team to winning the Cricket World Cup in 1996. This big win happened under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga. Since then, they have been a strong team in international cricket. They reached the finals of the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. They finished as runners-up in both tournaments.
Sri Lanka has won the Cricket World Cup once (1996). They were also co-champions of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 with India. In 2014, they won the ICC T20 World Cup. They have also been runners-up in the ICC T20 World Cup twice, in 2009 and 2012. The team holds several world records, including the highest team score in Test cricket.
Contents
- Team History
- Cricket's Governing Body
- International Cricket Grounds
- Team Colours and Logo
- Tournament Wins
- Current Players
- Coaching and Management
- Team Sponsors
- Records and Statistics
- Images for kids
- See also
Team History
Early Days of Cricket
Cricket was brought to Sri Lanka by the British. The first recorded match was in 1832. By the 1880s, a national team called the Ceylon national cricket team was formed. They started playing first-class cricket in the 1920s.
In 1965, the Ceylon team became an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council. In 1972, the country was renamed Sri Lanka. The national team first played top-level international cricket in 1975. They played against the West Indies in the 1975 Cricket World Cup.
Becoming a Test Nation
Sri Lanka was given Test cricket status in 1981. This made them the eighth country to play Test cricket. Their first Test match was against England in Colombo on February 17, 1982. Bandula Warnapura was the captain for Sri Lanka in that game. England won the match.
Sri Lanka had to wait until September 6, 1985, for their first Test win. They beat India by 149 runs in Colombo. This win happened under the leadership of Duleep Mendis. They also won the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship. They beat Pakistan in the final.
Their next series win was in December 1992 against New Zealand. This was followed by a one-wicket victory against England. In 1995, Sri Lanka won their first overseas Test match. This was against New Zealand in Napier, led by Arjuna Ranatunga. This also led to their first overseas Test series victory.
Sri Lanka got their first One-Day International (ODI) win against India on June 16, 1979.
Modern Successes
After many years, Sri Lanka became famous in the cricket world. They won the 1996 Cricket World Cup with Arjuna Ranatunga as captain. They changed how batting was done by scoring quickly in the first 15 overs.
Sri Lanka also became co-champions in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy. They have won the Asia Cup six times: in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022.
On September 11, 1999, Sri Lanka won their first Test match against Australia. This win happened in Kandy under Sanath Jayasuriya's leadership. They won the three-match Test series 1–0.
On June 14, 2000, Sri Lanka played their 100th Test match against Pakistan. Pakistan won that game.
On August 4, 2016, Sri Lanka played their 250th Test match against Australia in Galle. They won the match by 229 runs. They also won the Warne–Muralidaran Trophy for the first time. On August 17, 2016, under Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka beat Australia 3-0 in a Test series. This was their first "whitewash" (winning all matches) against Australia.
Sri Lanka played their first day-night Test match on October 6, 2017, against Pakistan. They won the match by 68 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne was the first Sri Lankan to score a fifty, a century, and a 150 in a day-night Test.
Sri Lanka played their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match on June 15, 2006, against England. They won by 2 runs. In 2014, they won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 by beating India.
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As of July 2018, Sri Lanka has played Test cricket against nine teams. Their most frequent opponent is Pakistan. In ODI matches, they have played against 17 teams. They have played against India most often. In T20Is, they have played against 13 countries. Sri Lanka was once the top-ranked T20I team in the world for over 32 months.
From July to October 2017, Sri Lanka lost twelve ODI matches in a row. This was their second-longest losing streak. They also lost 5-0 in series against South Africa, India, and Pakistan in 2017.
On September 9, 2019, Sri Lanka won a T20I series 3–0 against Pakistan at home. This was their first T20I series whitewash against Pakistan. In July 2021, Sri Lanka won a T20I series against India 2–1. This was their first T20I series win against India.
On March 4, 2022, Sri Lanka played their 300th Test match against India. Sri Lanka lost the match. Despite challenges at home, Sri Lanka won the 2022 Asia Cup on September 11, 2022, beating Pakistan in the final.
On April 28, 2023, Sri Lanka won their 100th Test match against Ireland in Galle. They won the series 2–0. They became the 8th Test nation to reach this milestone.
In November 2023, the ICC temporarily suspended Sri Lanka cricket. This was due to concerns about political interference in how cricket was managed. The suspension was lifted in January 2024.
Cricket's Governing Body
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the main organization that runs cricket in Sri Lanka. It manages the Sri Lankan cricket team and also organizes domestic cricket competitions. SLC oversees important tournaments like the Premier Trophy (first-class cricket) and the Premier Limited Overs Tournament (List A cricket). They also organize the Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament.
SLC tries to spread cricket to more parts of the country. Many rural areas, away from the capital city, have not produced many cricketers. Most successful players come from a few major areas like Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Kurunegala. SLC is working on programs to help cricket grow everywhere.
International Cricket Grounds
Sri Lanka has several cricket stadiums where international matches are played. These stadiums are located in different cities across the country.
| Stadium | City | Capacity | First used | Last used | Tests | ODIs | T20Is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active stadiums | |||||||
| P. Sara Oval | Colombo | 15,000 | 1982 | 2019 | 22 | 12 | 2 |
| SSC ground | Colombo | 10,000 | 1984 | 2024 | 47 | 65 | 2 |
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo | 35,000 | 1986 | 2024 | 9 | 152 | 44 |
| Galle International Stadium | Galle | 35,000 | 1998 | 2024 | 44 | 9 | 0 |
| Pallekele Cricket Stadium | Pallekele, Kandy | 35,000 | 2010 | 2024 | 9 | 39 | 22 |
| Rangiri Dambulla Stadium | Dambulla | 16,800 | 2001 | 2024 | 0 | 58 | 6 |
| Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium | Sooriyawewa, Hambantota | 35,000 | 2011 | 2023 | 0 | 27 | 7 |
| Former stadiums | |||||||
| Asgiriya Stadium | Kandy | 10,000 | 1983 | 2007 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| CCC ground | Colombo | 6,000 | 1983 | 1987 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| De Soysa Stadium | Moratuwa | 16,000 | 1984 | 1993 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Note: This table shows active and former stadiums. It does not include abandoned or cancelled matches.
- Updated 18 October 2024.
Team Colours and Logo
Team Colours
The Sri Lankan national cricket team wears blue and yellow colours. The bright blue represents the ocean around the island. The golden yellow stands for the united island, like its sandy beaches.
For Test matches, the team wears white uniforms. They might wear a dark blue and yellow sweater in cold weather. The Sri Lankan flag is on the left side of the shirt. The player's Test cap number is usually below the flag. Helmets are deep blue, and fielders' hats are also blue.
For One Day and Twenty20 matches, the kits change each year. They usually feature bright blue with yellow stripes. In 2019, for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the team's jersey was made from recycled plastic from the Sri Lankan coast. It even had a turtle drawing on the side!
Team Logo
The Sri Lanka cricket team's logo features a golden lion holding a sword. The background is bright blue. The words "Sri Lanka Cricket" are written below the lion. This logo is seen on their practice jerseys.
In Test cricket, the logo on the cap is a bit different. The lion with a sword is surrounded by lotus petals and circles. This design is part of the Sri Lankan coat of arms. This logo is also on the front of caps and helmets in ODIs and T20Is.
Tournament Wins
ICC Tournaments
- World Cup:
- T20 World Cup:
- Champions (1): 2014
- Runners-up (2): 2009, 2012
- Champions Trophy:
- Champions (1): 2002
ACC Tournaments (Asia)
- Asia Cup:
- Champions (6): 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022
- Runners-up (7): 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2023
- Asian Test Championship:
- Champions (1): 2001–02
- Runners-up (1): 1998–99
Other Tournaments
- Asian Games
- Gold Medal (1): 2014
- South Asian Games
- Silver Medal (2): 2010, 2019
Current Players
This section lists players who are currently under contract with Sri Lanka Cricket. It also includes players who have played for Sri Lanka in the last year or have been named in recent squads. New players are shown in italics.
Last updated: November 19, 2024
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| C | Contracted Players |
| S/N | Shirt number of the player in all formats |
| Format | Denotes the particular format/s played over the last year, not entire career |
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Domestic team | LPL team | Forms | C | S/N | Last Test | Last ODI | Last T20I | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||||||||
| Shevon Daniel | 21 | Left-handed | N/A | SSC | Colombo | ODI | Y | 11 | N/A |  2024 |
 2023 |
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| Avishka Fernando | 27 | Right-handed | N/A | SSC | Jaffna | ODI | Y | 28 | N/A | 2024 |
 2024 |
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| Nuwanindu Fernando | 25 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | SSC | Dambulla | ODI | N/A | 2024 |
2023 |
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| Dimuth Karunaratne | 37 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | SSC | Kandy | Test | Y | 16 | 2024 |
 2023 |
N/A | |
| Pathum Nissanka | 27 | Right-handed | N/A | NCC | Jaffna | Test, ODI, T20I | Y | 18 | 2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Kusal Perera | 34 | Left-handed | N/A | Police | Dambulla | T20I | Y | 55 | 2021 |
2023 |
2024 |
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| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | 33 | Left-handed | N/A | SSC | Galle | T20I | 56 | N/A |  2021 |
2024 |
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| All-rounders | ||||||||||||
| Sahan Arachchige | 29 | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | NCC | Galle | ODI | Y | 43 | N/A | 2024 |
2023 |
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| Charith Asalanka | 27 | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | SSC | Jaffna | ODI, T20I | Y | 72 | 2022 |
2024 |
2024 |
ODI (C), T20I (C) |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 33 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | CCC | Jaffna | Test | Y | 75 | 2024 |
2023 |
 2024 |
Test (C) |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | CCC | Kandy | ODI, T20I | Y | 49 | 2021 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Dushan Hemantha | 31 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Burgher | Dambulla | ODI | Y | 34 | N/A | 2023 |
N/A | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | NCC | Colombo | N/A | Y | 29 |  2019 |
2023 |
2023 |
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| Janith Liyanage | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | Ragama | Galle | ODI | Y | 67 | N/A | 2024 |
2022 |
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| Angelo Mathews | 38 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Colts | Kandy | Test | Y | 69 | 2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
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| Kamindu Mendis | 26 | Left-handed | Ambidextrous off break | CCC | Kandy | Test, ODI, T20I | Y | 21 | 2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Ramesh Mendis | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Moors | Kandy | Test | Y | 25 | 2024 |
2022 |
2024 |
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| Dasun Shanaka | 33 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | SSC | Kandy | T20I | Y | 7 | 2021 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 22 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | SSC | Dambulla | T20I | N/A | 22 | N/A | 2024 |
2024 |
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| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||||||
| Dinesh Chandimal | 35 | Right-handed | N/A | Colts | Kandy | Test | Y | 56 | 2024 |
2022 |
2022 |
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| Nishan Madushka | 25 | Right-handed | N/A | CCC | Jaffna | Test,ODI | Y | 24 | 2024 |
2024 |
N/A | |
| Kusal Mendis | 30 | Right-handed | N/A | SSC | Jaffna | Test, ODI, T20I | Y | 13 | 2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
Test (VC) |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | 29 | Right-handed | N/A | Moors | Colombo | Test, ODI | Y | 23 | 2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Spin Bowlers | ||||||||||||
| Akila Dananjaya | 31 | Left-handed | Right-arm leg break | Colts | Dambulla | ODI | Y | 4 | 2019 |
2024 |
2021 |
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| Prabath Jayasuriya | 33 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | SSC | Galle | Test | Y | 77 | 2024 |
2018 |
N/A | |
| Nishan Peiris | 27 | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | Negombo | N/A | Test | N/A | 2024 |
N/A | N/A | ||
| Maheesh Theekshana | 24 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Army | Galle | ODI, T20I | Y | 61 |  2022 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Jeffrey Vandersay | 35 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Bloomfield | Galle | ODI | Y | 46 | 2022 |
2024 |
2022 |
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| Dunith Wellalage | 22 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | Colts | Colombo | ODI, T20I | Y | 9 | 2022 |
2024 |
2024 |
|
| Pace Bowlers | ||||||||||||
| Dushmantha Chameera | 33 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | NCC | Kandy | ODI ,T20I | Y | 5 | 2021 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Asitha Fernando | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | CCC | Jaffna | Test, ODI, T20I | Y | 78 | 2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
|
| Binura Fernando | 29 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | Ragama | Colombo | T20I | Y | 71 | N/A | 2021 |
2024 |
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| Vishwa Fernando | 33 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | CCC | N/A | Test | Y | 68 | 2024 |
2019 |
2017 |
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| Lahiru Kumara | 28 | Left-handed | Right-arm fast | NCC | Galle | Test | Y | 8 | 2024 |
2024 |
2023 |
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| Pramod Madushan | 31 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | SSC | Jaffna | ODI | Y | 40 | N/A | 2024 |
2023 |
|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 24 | Right-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | Colts | Dambulla | ODI, T20I | Y | 98 | 2023 |
2024 |
2024 |
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| Matheesha Pathirana | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | NCC | Colombo | T20I | Y | 81 | N/A | 2023 |
2024 |
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| Kasun Rajitha | 32 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | SSC | Kandy | Test | Y | 65 | 2024 |
2023 |
2023 |
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| Milan Rathnayake | 28 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | Moors | N/A | Test | N/A | N/A | 2024 |
N/A | N/A | |
| Mohamed Shiraz | 30 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | Burgher | Galle | ODI | N/A | 6 | N/A | 2024 |
N/A | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 30 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | CCC | Dambulla | T20I | Y | 53 | N/A | N/A | 2024 |
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Some other players like Niroshan Dickwella, Oshada Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya & Praveen Jayawickrama are also under contract. However, they have not played for Sri Lanka in the last 12 months.
Coaching and Management
Coaching Staff
The team has a dedicated coaching staff to help players improve.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Team Manager |  Mahinda Halangode |
| Head coach cum Cricket consultant | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| Assistant coach | Thilina Kandamby |
| Spin bowling coach | Craig Howard |
| Fast bowling coach | |
| Fielding coach | Upul Chandana |
| Physiotherapist | Jonathan Porter |
| Physical performance manager | vacant |
| Analyst | Shirantha Niroshana |
Selection Committee
A special committee chooses the players for the national team.
- Upul Tharanga (Chairman)
- Dilruwan Perera
- Tharanga Paranavithana
- Ajantha Mendis
- Indika de Saram
Team Sponsors
The Sri Lanka cricket team has various sponsors and partners. These companies help support the team.
| Team Sponsor | Dialog |
|---|---|
| Kit Sponsor | Moose Clothing Company |
| Partners |
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| Official Broadcaster | Sony Pictures Networks |
In the past, sponsors included Ceylon tea, Reebok, and Mobitel Sri Lanka. Dilmah has been a long-time sponsor. The main sponsors today are Dialog Axiata, JAT Holdings, and MAS Holdings.
Records and Statistics
International Match Summary
This table shows Sri Lanka's overall performance in international cricket matches.
| Format | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Drawn | No result | %Won | Inaugural match | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 321 | 106 | 123 | 0 | 92 | – | 33.02 | 17 February 1982 | |
| ODI | 924 | 425 | 453 | 6 | – | 40 | 45.99 | 7 June 1975 | |
| T20I | 198 | 88 | 103 | 5 | – | 2 | 43.87 | 15 June 2006 |
Updated: 18 October 2024
Test Match Records
Team Records
- Highest team total: 952/6 dec. against India in Colombo in 1997. This is a world record!
- Lowest team total: 71 against Pakistan in Asgiriya in 1994.
Individual Records
- Most matches: 149 Tests by Mahela Jayawardene.
- Longest-serving captain: 56 Tests by Arjuna Ranatunga.
Batting Records
- Most runs: 12,400 by Kumar Sangakkara.
- Highest individual score: 374 by Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in Colombo in 2006.
- Highest partnership: 624 by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in Colombo in 2006.
Bowling Records
- Most wickets: 795 by Muttiah Muralitharan.
- Best figures in an innings: 9/51 by Muttiah Muralitharan against Zimbabwe in Asgiriya in 2002.
- Best figures in a match: 16/220 by Muttiah Muralitharan against England at The Oval in 1998.
One Day International (ODI) Records
ODI Team Records
- Highest team total: 443/9 (50 overs) against Netherlands in 2006.
- Lowest team total: 43 (20.1 overs) against South Africa in 2012.
ODI Individual Records
- Most matches: 443 by Mahela Jayawardene.
- Longest-serving captain: 193 matches by Arjuna Ranatunga.
ODI Batting Records
- Most runs: 14,234 by Kumar Sangakkara.
- Highest individual score: 210* by Pathum Nissanka against Afghanistan in Pallekele in 2024.
- Highest partnership: 286* by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.
- Most centuries: 28 by Sanath Jayasuriya.
ODI Bowling Records
- Most wickets: 534 by Muttiah Muralitharan.
- Best figures in an innings: 8/19 by Chaminda Vaas against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001.
Twenty20 International (T20I) Records
T20I Team Records
- Highest team total: 260/6 against Kenya in 2007.
- Lowest team total: 79 against India in 2016.
T20I Individual Records
- Most matches: 99 by Dasun Shanaka.
- Longest-serving captain: 48 matches by Dasun Shanaka.
T20I Batting Records
- Most runs: 1,889 by Tillakaratne Dilshan.
- Highest individual score: 104* by Tillakaratne Dilshan against Australia in Pallekele in 2011.
- Highest partnership: 166 by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara against West Indies in 2010.
T20I Bowling Records
- Most wickets: 107 by Lasith Malinga.
- Best bowling: 6/8 by Ajantha Mendis against Zimbabwe in Hambantota in 2012.
Images for kids
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The 2011 Cricket World Cup Final, Sri Lankan team reached their third final in the Cricket World Cups
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The first Test match of Pakistan's 2012 Sri Lankan tour, Sri Lanka went on to win the match
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The second Test match of the 2014 Sri Lanka's England tour, Sri Lanka won the match, despite trailing in the first inning
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Sri Lanka flag on the jersey
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SLC cricket team logo on the practice jersey
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Sri Lanka cricket team logo on the helmet
See also
- Cricket in Sri Lanka
- Lanka Premier League
- Bangladesh–Sri Lanka cricket rivalry
