Australia won the 2007 World Cup final in near darkness. Sri Lanka won the 1996 final in Lahore. In 2026, a Sri Lankan opener smashed a 52-ball hundred and pushed Australia out of a T20 World Cup. That is the whole story in three lines. But the details are where it gets fun.
This is the full Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline. It runs from the first meeting in 1975 to the latest match in February 2026. You will get every Test result, every World Cup meeting, key players from each era, and clean tables you can trust.
All numbers come from ESPNcricinfo, ICC event pages and match reports. A short note on sources sits at the end.
Quick Snapshot: Overall Record
Let’s start the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline with the big picture. Here are the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Stats across all three formats, and the overall Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Standings by format.
| Format | Matches | Australia Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Draws / No Result | First Meeting | Latest Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 35 | 22 | 5 | 8 draws | Apr 1983, Kandy | 6–9 Feb 2025, Galle |
| ODIs | 106 | 64 | 38 | 4 no result | 11 Jun 1975, The Oval | 14 Feb 2025, Colombo |
| T20Is | 27 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 20 Sep 2007, Cape Town | 16 Feb 2026, Pallekele |
Australia lead in every format. Still, the gap is smaller than you might think in white-ball cricket. Sri Lanka have won 11 of 27 T20Is and 38 of 106 ODIs.
Note: a few stat sites show 28 T20Is. We use 27, which matches the match-by-match list on ESPNcricinfo and other trackers.
How the Rivalry Began (1975–1999)
This part of the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline covers the first 24 years. The first meeting was at the 1975 World Cup. Australia scored 328/5 at The Oval. Alan Turner made 101. Sri Lanka replied with 276/4 and lost by 52 runs. Sri Lanka were not even a Test nation then. That came in 1981.
Their first Test was in Kandy in April 1983. Australia won by an innings and 38 runs. Over the next 16 years, Australia dominated. They won at Perth, Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide. They also won a tight 1992 Colombo Test by just 16 runs.
Then came the turning point. In September 1999, Sri Lanka won a Test in Kandy by six wickets. It was their first Test win over Australia. Two draws followed in Galle and Colombo.
The 1996 World Cup was the real shock. Australia refused to play their group match in Colombo because of security fears. Sri Lanka got the points. Then the two teams met in the final at Lahore on 17 March 1996. Australia made 241/7. Sri Lanka chased it down for 245/3 with 22 balls left. Aravinda de Silva was the hero. Captain Arjuna Ranatunga hit the winning runs.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head in Tests
Every Test in the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline is listed here. All 35 are shown, oldest first.
| # | Date | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22–26 Apr 1983 | Kandy | Australia | Innings and 38 runs |
| 2 | 12–15 Feb 1988 | Perth (WACA) | Australia | Innings and 108 runs |
| 3 | 8–12 Dec 1989 | Brisbane | Draw | – |
| 4 | 16–20 Dec 1989 | Hobart | Australia | 173 runs |
| 5 | 17–22 Aug 1992 | Colombo (SSC) | Australia | 16 runs |
| 6 | 28 Aug–2 Sep 1992 | Colombo (RPS) | Draw | – |
| 7 | 8–13 Sep 1992 | Moratuwa | Draw | – |
| 8 | 8–11 Dec 1995 | Perth (WACA) | Australia | Innings and 36 runs |
| 9 | 26–30 Dec 1995 | Melbourne | Australia | 10 wickets |
| 10 | 25–29 Jan 1996 | Adelaide | Australia | 148 runs |
| 11 | 9–11 Sep 1999 | Kandy | Sri Lanka | 6 wickets |
| 12 | 22–26 Sep 1999 | Galle | Draw | – |
| 13 | 30 Sep–4 Oct 1999 | Colombo (SSC) | Draw | – |
| 14 | 8–12 Mar 2004 | Galle | Australia | 197 runs |
| 15 | 16–20 Mar 2004 | Kandy | Australia | 27 runs |
| 16 | 24–28 Mar 2004 | Colombo (SSC) | Australia | 121 runs |
| 17 | 1–3 Jul 2004 | Darwin | Australia | 149 runs |
| 18 | 9–13 Jul 2004 | Cairns | Draw | – |
| 19 | 8–12 Nov 2007 | Brisbane | Australia | Innings and 40 runs |
| 20 | 16–20 Nov 2007 | Hobart | Australia | 96 runs |
| 21 | 31 Aug–3 Sep 2011 | Galle | Australia | 125 runs |
| 22 | 8–12 Sep 2011 | Pallekele | Draw | – |
| 23 | 16–20 Sep 2011 | Colombo (SSC) | Draw | – |
| 24 | 14–18 Dec 2012 | Hobart | Australia | 137 runs |
| 25 | 26–28 Dec 2012 | Melbourne | Australia | Innings and 201 runs |
| 26 | 3–6 Jan 2013 | Sydney | Australia | 5 wickets |
| 27 | 26–30 Jul 2016 | Pallekele | Sri Lanka | 106 runs |
| 28 | 4–6 Aug 2016 | Galle | Sri Lanka | 229 runs |
| 29 | 13–17 Aug 2016 | Colombo (SSC) | Sri Lanka | 163 runs |
| 30 | 24–26 Jan 2019 | Brisbane | Australia | Innings and 40 runs |
| 31 | 1–4 Feb 2019 | Canberra | Australia | 366 runs |
| 32 | 29 Jun–1 Jul 2022 | Galle | Australia | 10 wickets |
| 33 | 8–11 Jul 2022 | Galle | Sri Lanka | Innings and 39 runs |
| 34 | 29 Jan–1 Feb 2025 | Galle | Australia | Innings and 242 runs |
| 35 | 6–9 Feb 2025 | Galle | Australia | 9 wickets |
Disclaimer: This article on the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team rivalry is for information only. Match data comes from public sources including ESPNcricinfo, ICC event pages and other cricket record sites. Different sites can show slightly different totals, and records change after every match. Please confirm key numbers on the official ICC website before quoting them. This article is not affiliated with Cricket Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket or the ICC.
These Test rows are the heart of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Stats. Look at row 27 to 29. In 2016, Sri Lanka beat Australia 3–0 at home. That is the only time they have won a full series against them.
Test Series Standings
This is the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Standings in Test series. In the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team rivalry, Australia have won 12 of 15 series.
| Series | Tests | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1982/83 (Sri Lanka) | 1 | Australia 1–0 |
| 1987/88 (Australia) | 1 | Australia 1–0 |
| 1989/90 (Australia) | 2 | Australia 1–0 |
| 1992 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Australia 1–0 |
| 1995/96 (Australia) | 3 | Australia 3–0 |
| 1999 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Sri Lanka 1–0 |
| 2004 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Australia 3–0 |
| 2004 (Australia) | 2 | Australia 1–0 |
| 2007/08 (Australia) | 2 | Australia 2–0 |
| 2011 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Australia 1–0 |
| 2012/13 (Australia) | 3 | Australia 3–0 |
| 2016 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Sri Lanka 3–0 |
| 2018/19 (Australia) | 2 | Australia 2–0 |
| 2022 (Sri Lanka) | 2 | Drawn 1–1 |
| 2025 (Sri Lanka) | 2 | Australia 2–0 |
The 2025 series also counted for the World Test Championship. Australia took 12 points from the first Test alone.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head in ODIs
In one-day cricket, Australia lead 64–38. There have been 4 no-results. The score in the last 15 years is much closer. Here is how each bilateral series ended in the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline. It also works as the ODI Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Standings.
| Series | Matches | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1982/83 (Sri Lanka) | 4 | Sri Lanka 2–0 |
| 1992 (Sri Lanka) | 3 | Sri Lanka 2–1 |
| 2003/04 (Sri Lanka) | 5 | Australia 3–2 |
| 2010/11 (Australia) | 3 | Sri Lanka 2–1 |
| 2011 (Sri Lanka) | 5 | Australia 3–2 |
| 2012/13 (Australia) | 5 | Drawn 2–2 |
| 2016 (Sri Lanka) | 5 | Australia 4–1 |
| 2022 (Sri Lanka) | 5 | Sri Lanka 3–2 |
| 2024/25 (Sri Lanka) | 2 | Sri Lanka 2–0 |
Among all Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Stats, the 2025 sweep stands out. The 2010/11 win was Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win in Australia. The 2025 sweep was heavy. In the second ODI on 14 February 2025, Sri Lanka made 281/4 and bowled Australia out for 107. That is a 174-run win.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head in T20Is
Here is the year-by-year picture in T20 internationals. These Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Stats cover every T20I. The two sides have played 27 times. Australia lead 16–11.
| Year | Matches | Result | Main Venues |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | Australia 1–0 | Cape Town |
| 2009 | 1 | Sri Lanka 1–0 | Nottingham |
| 2010 | 2 | 1–1 | Bridgetown, Perth |
| 2011 | 2 | Sri Lanka 2–0 | Pallekele |
| 2013 | 2 | Sri Lanka 2–0 | Sydney, Melbourne |
| 2016 | 2 | Australia 2–0 | Pallekele, Colombo |
| 2017 | 3 | Sri Lanka 2–1 | Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide |
| 2019 | 3 | Australia 3–0 | Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne |
| 2021 | 1 | Australia 1–0 | Dubai |
| Feb 2022 | 5 | Australia 4–1 | Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne |
| Jun 2022 | 3 | Australia 2–1 | Colombo, Pallekele |
| Oct 2022 | 1 | Australia 1–0 | Perth |
| 2026 | 1 | Sri Lanka 1–0 | Pallekele |
In September 2016, Australia scored 263/3 at Pallekele and won by 85 runs. That remains Australia’s highest T20I total.
ICC Matches Between Australia and Sri Lanka
Big tournaments bring big memories. Here is how the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline looks in each ICC event.
ODI World Cup Matches
The two teams have met 12 times at the World Cup. Each row below acts as a short Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard. Australia have won 9, Sri Lanka 2 and one match had no result.
| Year | Stage | Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Group | 11 Jun 1975 | The Oval, London | AUS 328/5; SL 276/4 | Australia won by 52 runs |
| 1992 | Group | 7 Mar 1992 | Adelaide Oval | SL 189/9; AUS 190/3 (44 ov) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 1996 | Group | 17 Feb 1996 (scheduled) | Colombo | Not played | Sri Lanka awarded points (Australia forfeited) |
| 1996 | Final | 17 Mar 1996 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | AUS 241/7; SL 245/3 | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
| 2003 | Super Six | 7 Mar 2003 | Centurion | AUS 319/5; SL 223 (47.4 ov) | Australia won by 96 runs |
| 2003 | Semi-final | 18 Mar 2003 | St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth | AUS 212/7; SL 123/7 (38.1 ov) | Australia won by 48 runs (D/L) |
| 2007 | Super 8 | 16 Apr 2007 | St George’s, Grenada | SL 226; AUS 232/3 | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2007 | Final | 28 Apr 2007 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | AUS 281/4 (38 ov); SL 215/8 | Australia won by 53 runs (D/L) |
| 2011 | Group | 5 Mar 2011 | Colombo | SL 146/3 (32.5 ov) | No result (rain) |
| 2015 | Group | 8 Mar 2015 | Sydney Cricket Ground | AUS 376/9; SL 312/9 | Australia won by 64 runs |
| 2019 | Group | 15 Jun 2019 | The Oval, London | AUS 334/7; SL 247 | Australia won by 87 runs |
| 2023 | Group | 16 Oct 2023 | Lucknow | SL 209; AUS 215/5 (35.2 ov) | Australia won by 5 wickets |
The 2015 match had Glenn Maxwell’s blazing century. Kumar Sangakkara also made 104 for Sri Lanka. That was his third straight World Cup hundred.
T20 World Cup Matches
They have met six times at the T20 World Cup. Australia lead 4–2. Use this as a quick Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard list.
| Year | Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 20 Sep 2007 | Newlands, Cape Town | SL 101 (19.3 ov); AUS 102/0 (10.2 ov) | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 2009 | 8 Jun 2009 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | AUS 159/9; SL 160/4 (19 ov) | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 2010 | 9 May 2010 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | AUS 168/5; SL 87 (16.2 ov) | Australia won by 81 runs |
| 2021 | 28 Oct 2021 | Dubai | SL 154/6; AUS 155/3 (17 ov) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2022 | 25 Oct 2022 | Perth Stadium | SL 157/6; AUS 158/3 (16.3 ov) | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2026 | 16 Feb 2026 | Pallekele | AUS 181; SL 184/2 (18 ov) | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
Champions Trophy Matches
The two teams have met twice in the Champions Trophy. Sri Lanka won both, and both rows work as a Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard.
| Year | Stage | Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Semi-final | 27 Sep 2002 | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | AUS 162 (48.4 ov); SL 163/3 (40 ov) | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
| 2013 | Group A | 17 Jun 2013 | The Oval, London | SL 253/8; AUS 233 (42.3 ov) | Sri Lanka won by 20 runs |
Sri Lanka went on to share the 2002 title with India after rain washed out the final twice. In 2013, Mahela Jayawardene made an unbeaten 84 and won Player of the Match.
Match Scorecard: The Latest Big Clash (16 February 2026)
If you want one Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard to remember, pick this one. It was Group B of the T20 World Cup at Pallekele. Australia batted first and made 181. Travis Head hit 56 and captain Mitchell Marsh made 54. Sri Lanka’s spinners then pulled things back. Hemantha took 3/37 and Chameera took 2/36.
| Sri Lanka Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 100* | 52 | 10 | 5 | 192.30 |
| Kusal Perera | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Kusal Mendis | 51 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 134.21 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | 28* | 15 | 6 | 0 | 186.66 |
Sri Lanka finished on 184/2 in 18 overs. Nissanka hit the winning hundred. It was the first century of that World Cup. Australia finished 10th of 20 teams with two wins and two losses.
For any older Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, ESPNcricinfo keeps ball-by-ball records for every game listed above.
Key Players and Memorable Performances, Era by Era
Every era of the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline had its own stars. Here is who stood out.
1975–1999: The Early Years. Alan Turner made a hundred in the very first meeting. Sunil Wettimuny scored 53 not out on his ODI debut for Sri Lanka. In 1992, Aravinda de Silva top-scored with 62 at Adelaide. In 1996, he starred again in the final with bat and ball. De Silva took 3/42 that day, and Mark Taylor’s 74 for Australia was not enough.
2000–2009: Australian Dominance. Ricky Ponting hit 114 at Centurion in 2003. Adam Gilchrist fell for 99 in the same game. Australia swept the 2004 Test series 3–0 in Sri Lanka. In the 2007 World Cup final, Gilchrist’s big innings set up a 53-run win. That gave Australia three World Cups in a row.
2010–2019: Sri Lanka Fight Back. Sri Lanka won their first ODI series in Australia in 2010/11. Australia still won the 2011 and 2012/13 Test series. Then came 2016. Sri Lanka’s spinners crushed Australia 3–0 in the Tests. Australia hit back in 2019, winning both Tests at home and sweeping the T20Is 3–0.
2020–2026: Fresh Faces, Same Fire. In 2022, Sri Lanka won the ODI series 3–2. The Test series was drawn 1–1. In 2023, Australia beat Sri Lanka in Lucknow. Adam Zampa took four wickets. In January and February 2025, Usman Khawaja made 232 in Galle. Steve Smith made 141. Alex Carey made 156. Australia scored 654/6 declared. Then the ODIs flipped it. Sri Lanka won both. Finally, Pathum Nissanka’s 2026 century sealed the latest chapter.
Records: Highs, Lows and Big Wins
This is the section for Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Stats fans. It also shows how the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team contest has swung over time. First, the top scores in each format.
Highest Totals
| Format | Team | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Australia | 654/6 declared | Galle | 2025 |
| Test | Sri Lanka | 554/6 declared | Galle | 2022 |
| ODI | Australia | 376/9 | Sydney Cricket Ground | 2015 |
| T20I | Australia | 263/3 | Pallekele | 2016 |
Lowest Totals in an Innings
| Format | Team | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Australia | 106 | Galle | 2016 |
| Test | Sri Lanka | 117 | Pallekele | 2016 |
| ODI | Australia | 107 | Colombo | 2025 |
| T20I | Sri Lanka | 87 | Bridgetown | 2010 |
| T20I | Sri Lanka | 101 | Cape Town | 2007 |
Greatest Wins
| Format | Winner | Margin | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test (innings) | Australia | Innings and 242 runs | Galle | 29 Jan–1 Feb 2025 |
| Test (runs) | Australia | 366 runs | Canberra | 1–4 Feb 2019 |
| Test (runs) | Sri Lanka | 229 runs | Galle | 4–6 Aug 2016 |
| Test (innings) | Sri Lanka | Innings and 39 runs | Galle | 8–11 Jul 2022 |
| ODI (runs) | Sri Lanka | 174 runs | Colombo | 14 Feb 2025 |
| T20I (runs) | Australia | 134 runs | Adelaide | 27 Oct 2019 |
| T20I (runs) | Sri Lanka | 35 runs | Pallekele | 6 Aug 2011 |
| T20I (wickets) | Australia | 10 wickets | Cape Town | 20 Sep 2007 |
Expert Insight: What the Numbers Really Say
Here is a simple reading of the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team data. In Tests, Australia win because of their pace and big first-innings scores. Sri Lanka win when the pitch turns and their spinners get 20 wickets. Their three wins in 2016 all came in Sri Lanka on turning pitches. Their 2022 win came at Galle too.
In white-ball cricket, Sri Lanka are far more dangerous at home, and increasingly in big tournaments. Four of the last six T20I meetings before 2026 went Australia’s way. Then Nissanka and the Pallekele spinners changed that.
Editor’s note: this section is our own analysis of the match data. To add a named expert quote, ask a current or former player or a match commentator for a short comment and credit them by name.
Review: Is This a One-Sided Rivalry?
On paper, yes. Australia have won about 60% of ODIs and about 63% of Tests. But the score does not tell the full story. Sri Lanka have won a World Cup final, two Champions Trophy games and a T20 World Cup match against Australia in 2026. They have also beaten Australia in Sri Lanka in each format since 2022. The Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline is lopsided, but it keeps producing shocks. Our rating for excitement: 4 out of 5.
The World Test Championship adds one more line to the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Standings: Australia took 12 points from the first Test of the 2025 series, and Sri Lanka took none.
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Conclusion
That is the full story of the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline. Australia have the numbers. Sri Lanka have the moments. From Lahore in 1996 to Pallekele in 2026, this rivalry has plenty of both. With Australia’s 2026 group-stage exit and Sri Lanka’s fresh belief, the next meeting will be worth watching.
For a quick check on any fixture, the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline above works as your reference. Come back after each new series, because this page will be updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who leads in the Australia vs Sri Lanka head-to-head?
Australia lead in all three formats. In the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs Australia National Cricket Team Standings view, they have won 22 of 35 Tests, 64 of 106 ODIs and 16 of 27 T20Is.
2. When did Australia and Sri Lanka first play each other?
In the Australia National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team story, they first met at the 1975 World Cup at The Oval on 11 June 1975. Australia won by 52 runs. Their first Test was in Kandy in April 1983.
3. What was the last match between the two teams?
The last meeting we could confirm was the T20 World Cup match on 16 February 2026 at Pallekele. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.
4. Who won the 1996 World Cup final?
Sri Lanka won by seven wickets in Lahore on 17 March 1996. Australia scored 241/7 and Sri Lanka chased it down for 245/3.
5. Have they played in the Champions Trophy?
Yes, twice. Sri Lanka won the 2002 semi-final by seven wickets and a 2013 group match by 20 runs.
Explore the more information about for Match Scorecard, Stats at matchlifestats.com.
