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The Sri Lanka national cricket team and England cricket team have shared a long international rivalry dating back to 1982. Their matches have covered Test cricket, One Day Internationals and T20Is, with England holding the stronger overall record in Tests and T20Is while the ODI rivalry has become remarkably close. Through September 2026, the teams had played 39 Tests, 84 completed or recorded ODIs in the ACSH head-to-head record, and 21 T20Is. England had won 19 Tests compared with Sri Lanka’s nine, while their ODI record stood at 41 wins for England and 39 for Sri Lanka, with one tie and three no-results. In T20Is, England led 17-4 after their latest World Cup meeting.
The rivalry has produced several famous performances. Sri Lanka’s 1998 Test victory at The Oval was their first Test win in England, while their 2014 victory at Headingley helped them win a Test series in England. England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup victory over Sri Lanka came in a very different context, while the 2026 white-ball meetings added another chapter to a rivalry that continues to evolve.
First International Matches in 1982
The Sri Lanka-England cricket relationship entered Test cricket in February 1982.
Sri Lanka hosted England for their first Test at Colombo’s P Saravanamuttu Stadium. England won by seven wickets, beginning what would become a long-running Test rivalry.
The teams also played their first ODI meetings in February 1982. England won the first ODI by five wickets, while the second match was also won by England, this time by three wickets.
Sri Lanka were still establishing themselves as a Test nation, while England arrived with considerably more experience. The early results reflected that difference.
1984: First Test Draw
England hosted Sri Lanka for a one-off Test in 1984.
The match ended in a draw, giving Sri Lanka their first drawn Test against England.
The result was significant because it demonstrated that Sri Lanka could withstand England over five days despite having relatively little Test experience.
The teams did not meet in another Test until 1988.
1988 and 1991: England Continue Their Test Advantage
England won the one-off Tests in 1988 and 1991.
During this period, England’s experienced Test lineup remained difficult for Sri Lanka to overcome. Sri Lanka were developing their own generation of players who would eventually transform their cricket.
The late 1980s and early 1990s therefore remained a period in which England controlled most of the Test results.
1993: Sri Lanka’s First Test Victory Over England
A major turning point came during England’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1992-93.
Sri Lanka won the third Test at Moratuwa by 115 runs.
Sanath Jayasuriya produced an important bowling performance in the match, taking six wickets for 29 runs in an innings. The result gave Sri Lanka their first Test victory over England.
This victory marked an important step in Sri Lanka’s development as a Test team.
Jayasuriya would later become one of the most influential all-rounders in international cricket, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
1996: Sri Lanka Become World Champions
Although the 1996 Cricket World Cup did not produce a Sri Lanka-England knockout match, Sri Lanka’s tournament changed the context of the rivalry.
Sri Lanka won the World Cup in spectacular fashion, defeating Australia in the final.
The emergence of Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan transformed Sri Lanka into one of international cricket’s strongest teams.
From this point onward, meetings with England became much more competitive.
1998: Historic Test Win at The Oval
One of the most important matches in the rivalry took place in August 1998.
Sri Lanka defeated England by 10 wickets at The Oval.
Aravinda de Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan were among the key Sri Lankan players in a historic victory.
The win was Sri Lanka’s first Test victory against England on English soil. It demonstrated that the Sri Lankan side had become capable of defeating established Test teams away from home.
The result remains an important milestone in the history of the fixture.
1999: ODI Battles Become More Competitive
The late 1990s also produced some memorable ODI meetings.
Sri Lanka’s batting had become particularly dangerous in limited-overs cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya’s aggressive opening style and Muralitharan’s ability to control the middle overs gave Sri Lanka a strong combination.
The 1999 ODI in Perth was particularly notable for Sri Lanka’s low total. They were dismissed for 99, one of their lowest completed ODI totals against England.
The teams continued to meet regularly in bilateral series and ICC tournaments.
2000-2003: A Competitive Test Period
The early 2000s brought several Test series between the sides.
England won two Tests during their 2000-01 tour of Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka won one.
In 2002, England won two Tests in a three-match home series, with one match drawn.
The 2003-04 series in Sri Lanka was much more balanced. Sri Lanka won one Test and two were drawn.
This period produced some of the rivalry’s biggest individual scores and totals.
Sri Lanka scored 628 for eight declared against England at Colombo’s SSC in 2003, one of the highest team totals in the fixture’s Test history.
2006: Sri Lanka Win at Nottingham
Sri Lanka produced another important away Test victory in 2006.
They defeated England at Trent Bridge by 134 runs.
Sri Lanka’s series in England ended 1-1, with one Test drawn. The victory was their second Test win in England, following their 1998 success at The Oval.
The series demonstrated that Sri Lanka could compete successfully in English conditions rather than relying only on home advantage.
2007: England’s 81-Run Dismissal
The 2007 Test series in Sri Lanka produced one of England’s lowest scores in the rivalry.
England were dismissed for 81 at Galle in December 2007.
Sri Lanka won the match by 88 runs after another difficult batting performance from England. The 81 remains one of England’s lowest all-out totals against Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka won one Test during the three-match series, with the other two ending in draws.
2011: World Cup and ODI Competition
The 2011 Cricket World Cup provided another major Sri Lanka-England meeting.
Sri Lanka defeated England by 10 wickets in the quarter-final at Colombo.
England batted first and were restricted before Sri Lanka’s openers completed a comfortable chase.
Sri Lanka’s victory sent them into the World Cup semi-finals, where they eventually reached the final.
The match demonstrated the difference between the teams in that particular tournament and remains one of Sri Lanka’s most significant World Cup results against England.
2014: Sri Lanka Win a Test Series in England
Another landmark came during Sri Lanka’s 2014 Test tour of England.
Sri Lanka won the second Test at Headingley by 100 runs.
The victory gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 series win after the first Test at Lord’s had ended in a draw.
Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara were important figures in Sri Lankan cricket during this era, while Angelo Mathews was emerging as a major all-rounder.
Sri Lanka’s 2014 series victory remains one of their most significant Test achievements in England.
2016: Joe Root and Jason Roy Make Their Mark
The 2016 ODI series in England produced major individual batting performances.
Jason Roy scored 162 at The Oval, which remains England’s highest individual ODI score against Sri Lanka in the ACSH head-to-head records.
Alex Hales also scored 133 not out at Edgbaston.
Sri Lanka’s ODI batting was also capable of producing large totals. The 2016 series therefore became another example of the attacking nature of the two teams in limited-overs cricket.
2016: England Win the T20 World Cup Meeting
England and Sri Lanka have also met repeatedly in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The teams’ T20 World Cup head-to-head record currently stands at seven matches, with England winning six and Sri Lanka winning one.
Their first T20 World Cup encounter came in 2010.
England won that match by seven wickets, with Kevin Pietersen contributing to the chase.
Sri Lanka’s only T20 World Cup victory over England came later in the tournament history, but England have maintained the stronger record in this particular competition.
2018: Sri Lanka Score 366 in an ODI
Sri Lanka produced one of their highest ODI totals against England in October 2018.
They scored 366 for six at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
The innings remains Sri Lanka’s highest recorded ODI total against England in the ACSH records.
The match was part of an ODI series in Sri Lanka and demonstrated the home side’s ability to score heavily against England’s limited-overs attack.
2018-19: England Sweep the Test Series
England’s tour of Sri Lanka in late 2018 produced a remarkable result.
England won all three Tests.
The victories came in Galle, Kandy and Colombo, giving England a 3-0 series sweep.
This was particularly notable because Sri Lanka had traditionally been difficult to beat at home.
England’s success was built around a combination of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling and effective use of spin.
The series remains one of England’s most comprehensive Test performances in Sri Lanka.
2019: Cricket World Cup Match
The 2019 Cricket World Cup produced another memorable Sri Lanka-England contest.
Sri Lanka defeated England by 20 runs at Headingley.
Sri Lanka posted 232 for nine before England were bowled out for 212.
Lasith Malinga played an important role with the ball, while Angelo Mathews anchored Sri Lanka’s innings.
The result was one of the major surprises of the group stage because England entered the tournament as one of the strongest teams and were playing in home conditions.
England ultimately recovered and went on to win the World Cup, while Sri Lanka did not reach the semi-finals.
2020-21: England Win in Sri Lanka
England toured Sri Lanka for two Tests in January 2021.
England won both matches.
The first Test in Galle ended with England winning by seven wickets, while the second was won by six wickets.
Joe Root produced one of the defining performances of the series, scoring 228 in the first Test.
England’s 2-0 series victory reinforced their strong Test record against Sri Lanka.
2021: ODI Series Abandoned Match
The teams also met in England for a three-match ODI series in 2021.
England won the first two matches, while the third was abandoned without a result.
The second ODI at The Oval saw England chase Sri Lanka’s 241 for nine, reaching the target with eight wickets remaining.
The series was another example of England’s strong ODI record during this period.
2023: Sri Lanka Beat England in the World Cup
The 2023 Cricket World Cup produced another significant Sri Lankan victory.
Sri Lanka defeated England by eight wickets in Bengaluru.
England were bowled out for 156, while Sri Lanka reached 160 for two.
The result was particularly important because England entered the tournament as defending champions but struggled throughout their campaign.
Sri Lanka’s victory added another World Cup chapter to a rivalry that had already produced memorable meetings in 2011 and 2019.
2024: England Win Two Tests
England hosted Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series in August and September 2024.
England won the first Test at Manchester by five wickets.
They then won the second Test at Lord’s by 190 runs.
Sri Lanka responded in the third Test at The Oval, winning by eight wickets after Pathum Nissanka scored 127 not out in the successful chase.
England therefore won the series 2-1, but Sri Lanka’s victory in the final Test was historically important because it added another away win in England to their record.
2026: England Win the ODI Series in Sri Lanka
The rivalry became particularly active in early 2026.
England toured Sri Lanka for three ODIs in January.
Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 19 runs.
England responded by winning the second match by five wickets and the third by 53 runs.
England therefore won the series 2-1.
The third ODI was especially notable because England scored 357 for three. That became their highest ODI total against Sri Lanka in the ACSH records.
2026: England Complete a T20I Sweep
The teams then played three T20Is in Sri Lanka.
England won all three matches.
The first T20I was won by 11 runs using the DLS method, the second by six wickets under DLS, and the third by 12 runs.
The sweep strengthened England’s already substantial T20I advantage.
The T20I series also helped England prepare for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
2026: T20 World Cup Super Eight
England and Sri Lanka met again in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight stage in Kandy on February 22.
England scored 146 for nine.
Sri Lanka struggled in the chase and were dismissed for 95 in 16.4 overs.
England won by 51 runs.
Will Jacks was named Player of the Match after contributing 21 runs and taking three wickets for 22 runs. Jofra Archer also took two wickets.
The result extended England’s T20 World Cup advantage over Sri Lanka to six wins from seven meetings.
2026: England vs Sri Lanka ODI Series in England
The teams met again in England in September 2026 for three ODIs.
England won the opening match at Chester-le-Street by 89 runs. England scored 265 and dismissed Sri Lanka for 176. Harry Brook top-scored with 67, while Will Jacks contributed 46 and then took five wickets.
Sri Lanka responded in the second ODI at Headingley.
Kusal Mendis scored 121 from 100 balls as Sri Lanka posted 321 for six. England fought back through Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler and Will Jacks, but Sri Lanka won by 16 runs.
The result levelled the three-match series at 1-1 heading into the decider at The Oval.
2026: ODI Decider at The Oval
The third ODI was scheduled for September 27 at The Oval.
The match was particularly significant because Sri Lanka were attempting to win their first ODI series in England since 2014, while England were looking to finish the home white-ball season with another series victory.
England’s overall ODI record against Sri Lanka had moved to 41 wins against 39 for Sri Lanka after the second ODI, with one tie and three no-results in the ACSH record.
The recent series therefore added another close chapter to an ODI rivalry that has become much more balanced than the Test record.
Sri Lanka vs England Head-to-Head by Format
| Format | Matches | England Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Draw/Tie | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 39 | 19 | 9 | 11 draws | 0 |
| ODIs | 84 | 41 | 39 | 1 tie | 3 |
| T20Is | 21 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 World Cup | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The Test record shows England’s historical advantage, while the ODI numbers reveal a much closer contest. England have also dominated the T20I head-to-head record.
Notable Batting Records
The rivalry has produced several major individual batting performances.
For England, Jason Roy’s 162 at The Oval in 2016 remains the highest individual ODI score listed in the head-to-head record. Alex Hales also scored 133 not out in the same series.
Sri Lanka’s highest individual ODI score in the listed records is 152 by Sanath Jayasuriya at Headingley in 2006.
In T20Is, England’s highest individual score against Sri Lanka is Alex Hales’ unbeaten 116 in Chittagong during the 2014 World T20.
The Test rivalry has also featured enormous innings, including Sri Lanka’s 628 for eight declared at Colombo in 2003 and England’s 575 for nine declared at Lord’s in 2014.
Notable Bowling Records
Bowling has played a major role in the rivalry across all three formats.
Sanath Jayasuriya took six wickets for 29 runs against England in 1993, one of the most memorable early bowling performances in the fixture.
England have also produced major spells. Stuart Broad took three wickets for 32 in a T20 World Cup meeting in 2012, while Will Jacks took three for 22 during England’s 51-run victory over Sri Lanka at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The 2026 ODI series also produced an unusual all-round performance from Jacks. In the first match, he scored 46 and then took five wickets as England dismissed Sri Lanka for 176.
Major Matches at a Glance
| Year | Format | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Test | England won | First Test between the teams |
| 1993 | Test | Sri Lanka won | First Sri Lankan Test win over England |
| 1998 | Test | Sri Lanka won | First Sri Lankan Test win in England |
| 2006 | Test | Sri Lanka won | Sri Lanka won at Nottingham |
| 2011 | World Cup | Sri Lanka won | Quarter-final victory by 10 wickets |
| 2014 | Test | Sri Lanka won | Series victory in England |
| 2018 | Test | England won | England completed a 3-0 sweep in Sri Lanka |
| 2019 | World Cup | Sri Lanka won | Sri Lanka beat hosts England by 20 runs |
| 2021 | Test | England won | England completed a 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka |
| 2023 | World Cup | Sri Lanka won | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| 2024 | Test | England won 2-1 | Sri Lanka won the third Test |
| 2026 | ODI | England won 2-1 | England won the ODI series in Sri Lanka |
| 2026 | T20I | England won 3-0 | England swept the T20I series |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | England won | England won by 51 runs |
| 2026 | ODI | Series in progress/decider | Sri Lanka levelled the series in England |
FAQ
When did Sri Lanka and England first play each other?
Sri Lanka and England first played each other in men’s Test cricket in February 1982 in Colombo. England won the match by seven wickets. Their first ODIs were also played in February 1982, with England winning both early encounters.
Who has won more Tests between Sri Lanka and England?
England have the stronger Test record. Across 39 Tests, England have won 19, Sri Lanka have won nine and 11 have been drawn.
How many ODIs have Sri Lanka and England played?
The ACSH record lists 84 men’s ODI meetings from February 1982 through September 2026. England have won 41, Sri Lanka 39, one has been tied and three have ended without a result.
What was Sri Lanka’s most important Test win against England in England?
Sri Lanka’s 10-wicket victory at The Oval in 1998 was a landmark because it was their first Test victory in England. They later won at Nottingham in 2006, Headingley in 2014 and The Oval again in 2024.
Who won the latest Sri Lanka vs England T20 World Cup match?
England defeated Sri Lanka by 51 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight in Kandy. England scored 146 for nine before dismissing Sri Lanka for 95. Will Jacks took three wickets for 22 and was named Player of the Match.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka and England cricket rivalry has developed from an early period dominated by England into one of international cricket’s most established bilateral contests. England continue to hold a substantial advantage in Test cricket, with 19 wins to Sri Lanka’s nine across 39 Tests, while the ODI record is much closer.
Sri Lanka’s historic victories at The Oval in 1998 and 2024, their 2014 Test series victory in England, their 2011 and 2023 World Cup wins over England, and their 2019 World Cup upset are among the most significant moments for the island nation.
England have responded with major series victories, including the 2018 Test sweep in Sri Lanka, the 2021 Test series win, the 2026 ODI and T20I series victories in Sri Lanka, and their 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eight win.
The ODI rivalry is particularly notable. After decades of competition, the overall record has moved remarkably close, with England holding only a narrow advantage in wins. The matches in 2026 further demonstrated that the balance can change quickly, making Sri Lanka versus England one of the more interesting recurring fixtures in international cricket.