Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline

While the cricket rivalry between Sri Lanka and Australia is not that old, it’s always energizing for both the viewers and cricket pundits alike. With 167 matches played across all three formats, both teams have produced some of the best cricketing content and most thrilling and enjoyable moments in a game where memories last a lifetime. From the hot and sunny wickets in Sri Lanka to the raucous atmosphere in Australia, these two teams have consistently provided the cricketing world with breathtaking spectacles. The Australians hold a slight advantage over Sri Lanka, particularly in Test matches and T20Is; however, overall, the timeline of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team is a demonstration of growing supremacy in the world of cricket.

1975 to 2000: Early Encounters

Sri Lanka and Australia first faced each other in the 1975 Prudential World Cup, which went to Australia. They suffered a 52-run defeat in their match at home, but after 1975, there was an 8-year gap before the teams met again in 1983. The teams played in both Test and ODI matches. Sri Lanka won the ODI series 2-0, while Australia won its first Test match against Sri Lanka.

1983 First-Ever Test Match:

Sri Lanka played their first Test against Australia at the Asgiriya Stadium to mark the beginning of the Austro-Lankan rivalry. However, they lost the match to the visitors by an innings and 38 runs. The powerful performance by Kepler Wessels, David Hookes, Bruce Yardley, and Thomas Hogan proved significant to the Aussies’ win.

1984-1985 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup:

Australia and Sri Lanka played 5 matches against each other in this tournament. The Kangaroos won 4 games, while the Lankan Lions won only one. Skipper Allan Border’s (118) and Dean Jones’ (99) were crucial for Australia’s win at the Adelaide ground.

1989-1990 Austral-Asia Cup - 2nd Semi-Final:

Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 114 runs. Australia played the first innings for 332 runs on the loss of just 3 wickets. Dean Jones scored 117 runs, and Simon O'Donnell recorded 74 runs. This proved critical for their win against Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for 218. Hashan Tillakaratne (76) was the only player to cross the 50-run mark for his side.

1995-1996 Wills World Cup:

Sri Lanka and Australia reached the finals of the World Cup, played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The match ended with Sri Lanka winning by 7 wickets. Aravinda de Silva was named the “Man of the Match” for his all-round performance of 3/42 and 107* runs.

1999-2000 Sri Lanka v Australia:

The 3-match Test series between Aussies and Islanders ended with Sri Lanka winning the first match, while the remaining two matches were drawn. Aravinda de Silva and Ricky Ponting were named players of the match in the first match for carrying the game on their shoulders.

2000s to 2015: The Era of Competition

Although Australia has a slight edge over Sri Lanka, this period saw tough matches between both teams, with Sri Lanka challenging the Aussies at significant moments.

2002-2003 VB Series - 12th Match:

This match between Sri Lanka and Australia finished with Australia winning the game by 9 wickets. Captain Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden put on an unbeaten 178-run stand together for the second wicket.

2002-2003 ICC World Cup - 1st Semi-Final:

The 1st Semi-final between Sri Lanka and Australia ended with the Aussies winning the match by 48 runs (D/L method). Andrew Symonds scored 91, the only player from both sides to cross the 50-run mark.

2003-2004 Sri Lanka v Australia - 2nd Match:

This is the iconic match between both teams where Sri Lanka clinched victory from the hands of Australia by just 1 run. Despite Matthew Hayden’s 93 runs, Sri Lankan players managed to win.

2007-2008 ICC World Twenty20:

The first T20I match between both teams was played in Newlands. The home ground seemed advantageous for the Kangaroos as they won the match one-sided by 10 wickets. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden put on an unbeaten partnership for 102 runs.

2012-2013 Australia v Sri Lanka - 2nd Test:

This match saw the formidable Aussies score 450 in the first innings while restricting Sri Lanka to 156 & 103 respectively in the first and second innings. Skipper Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, and Shane Watson were crucial players in the game.

2013 ICC Champions Trophy - 12th Match:

Sri Lanka won by 20 runs, thanks to Mahela Jayawardene’s 84*. Sri Lanka gave a target of 254 runs for the Australian team; however, the run chase proved difficult for them.

2014-2015 ICC World Cup - 32nd Match:

Glenn Maxwell led Australia with 102, with additional support by Steve Smith (72), and Michael Clarke (68). However, it is Kumar Sangakkara’s fighting century against Australia that was iconic for cricket fans.

Recent Matches: 2015 to 2025

In recent matches, Sri Lanka posed tough challenges to Australia in Test and ODI cricket. However, the grasp of Australian players in the T20I format has prevented Sri Lankan players from succeeding in this format.

2016 Sri Lanka v Australia Test Series:

Sri Lanka won all matches of the Test Series against Australia by more significant margins of 106 runs, 229 runs, and 163 runs respectively. The complete dominance of the Islanders came with the powerful batting of Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kaushal Silva. Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, and Dilruwan Perera were commanding the bowling front for their side.

2019 ICC World Cup - 20th Match:

The run chase of 335 proved difficult for the Lankan Lions as they crumbled at 247. Aaron Finch contributed significantly and scored 153 runs. Sri Lanka started well with Dimuth Karunaratne (97) and Kusal Perera (52); however, with their dismissal, the team faltered with no player hitting the 50-run mark.

2024-2025 Sri Lanka v Australia:

The two-match Test series between both teams was won by Australia. Australia won the first Test by an innings and 242 runs, thanks to Usman Khawaja’s 232 runs and Steve Smith’s 142 runs. On the bowling front, Matthew Kuhnemann took command by taking 5 and 4 wickets in the first and second innings, respectively.

2024-2025 Sri Lanka v Australia:

While Sri Lanka lost the Test series against Australia, they won the two-match ODI series against the Kangaroos. Skipper Charith Asalanka made 127 runs, the only player to score even more than 50 runs. Maheesh Theekshana took 4 wickets, preventing the Aussies from completing the run chase of 215. Sri Lanka won the second match by 174 runs. Kusal Mendis scored 101 runs, the sole player to cross the 100-run mark.

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