Sri Lanka cricket team: A look at their history, records, and key players

Test Captian: Dimuth Karunaratne
ODI and T20I Captain: Dasun Shanaka
Team manager: Mahinda Halangoda
Head Coach: Sanath Jayasuriya
Assistant Coach : Thilina Kandamby
Spin Bowling coach: Craig Howard
Fast Bowling Coach (ODI & T20 temporarily): Aaqib Javed
Fast Bowling Coach (Test): Dharshana Gamage
Fielding Coach: Upul Chandana
Physiotherapist: Jonathan Porter

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A Sri Lankan team first played international cricket as Ceylon in 1926-27. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972, they featured in the inaugural edition of the ODI World Cup in 1975. Sri Lanka was awarded Test cricket status in 1981 and played their first Test match against England at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo, in February 1982. Bandula Warnapura was the captain in Sri Lanka’s first Test, which England won by 7 wickets

Sri Lanka’s first Test win came in September 1985, when they beat India by 149 runs at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo, under the leadership of Duleep Mendis. The Lankans went on to win the Test series 1-0. Their next Test series win came seven years later, against New Zealand in December 1992. They subsequently beat England by one wicket in a one-off Test.

The cricket world took notice of Sri Lanka’s talent when they lifted the ODI World Cup in 1996, just 14 years after being granted Test status. They were among the pioneers in exploiting the one-day field restrictions in the first 15 overs. The island nation remained a strong force in the game in the coming years. They also won the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship, defeating Pakistan in the final by an innings and 175 runs. 

Sri Lanka made consecutive World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, ending up as runners-up both times. They also won the T20 World Cup in 2014 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002. They lifted the Asia Cup for the sixth time in 2022. 

Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda De Silva, Lasith Malinga, Chaminda Vaas, Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu, Angelo Matthews, Duleep Mendis are considered among the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of all time.

• Highest innings total in Test matches (952/6 declare) – vs India in Colombo (RPS), August 1997
• Highest partnership in Test cricket (624) – 3rd wicket, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene vs South Africa, Colombo, July 2006
• Fastest to 12000 Test runs (224 innings) – Kumar Sangakkara vs New Zealand in Wellington, January 2015
• Most international wickets (1347) – Muttiah Muralitharan
• Most five wickets in an innings in Tests (67) – Muttiah Muralitharan
• Most ten-wicket hauls in a Test match (22) – Muttiah Muralitharan
• Most consecutive ten-wicket hauls in Test (4) – Muttiah Muralitharan
• Most fours in a one-day innings (56) vs Netherlands in Amstelveen, July 2006
• Best bowling figures in an ODI innings (8/19) – Chaminda Vaas vs Zimbabwe in Colombo (SSC), December 2001

• R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
• Galle International Stadium, Galle
• Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
• P. Sara Oval, Colombo
• Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
• Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
• Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Matale

Below is a list of major tournaments won by the Sri Lankan cricket team across formats:

Sri Lanka Cricket Address – Sri Lanka Cricket, 35, Maitland Place, Colombo, 07000, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94112681601-4
Email Address – [email protected]
Sri Lanka Cricket official website – https://srilankacricket.lk/

Colombo Cricket Club

Address – GYMKHANA CLUB, No.31, Maitland Crescent, Colombo 07, 00700, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – 011-2691025
Website – https://gymkhanaclub.lk/

Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club

Address – WV37+G34, Philip Gunewardena Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 112 692 550

Colts Cricket Club (Colombo)

Address – No 17, Park Road, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 11 2581633
Email Address – [email protected]
Website – www.colombocolts.lk

Kandy Customs Cricket Club (Kandy)

Address – SL Customs Times Building, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 11 232 0118

Moors Sports Club

Address – 50 Muttiah Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Contact Number – +94 112 304 224

Who is the best player in the Sri Lanka team?

Former captain Kumar Sangakkara holds several Sri Lankan batting records and is considered the best player from the island nation.

Was Sri Lanka a strong cricket team at any point?

The Sri Lankan cricket team currently holds several world records, including the world record for the highest team total in Test cricket.

Who are the key members of Sri Lanka Cricket?

Shammi Silva is the President of Sri Lanka Cricket, while Mohan de Silva is the Secretary

What sport is Sri Lanka best at?

Cricket. Apart from World Cups, they won the Asia Cup in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022.

Who was the best cricket player of Sri Lanka in 2022?

Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana are among the most successful players of 2022.

Who is the fastest bowler in Sri Lanka now?

Matheesha Pathirana is considered the fastest bowler in Sri Lankan cricket right now.

Who is the best T20 captain in Sri Lanka?

Current limited-overs captain Dasun Shanaka is considered the best T20 captain in Sri Lanka. 

Who is the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka?

With a world record of 1347 international wickets, Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka.

Which Sri Lankan pacer is often called the yorker king of world cricket?

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga is often called the yorker king of world cricket.

Who is considered Sri Lanka’s greatest captain?

Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup, is considered Sri Lanka’s greatest captain.