Derrick Robins assembled a cricket team to tour Sri Lanka in October 1977, playing one first-class and one limited overs match versus the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in Colombo and an additional first-class match versus the Central Province Cricket Association President's XI in Kandy.
Both of the first-class matches were drawn while the tourists won the limited overs game.
The team was captained by Mike Denness and included several well-known players such as David Gower, Peter Willey, Harry Pilling, Intikhab Alam, Roger Tolchard, John Lever, Phil Carrick, Geoff Howarth, John Wright, Chris Cowdrey and John Emburey.
Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara born 27 October 1977 is a Sri Lankan former professional cricketer who represented Sri Lanka in 134 Test matches from 2000 to 2015, including fifteen as captain. In first-class cricket, he played for Nondescripts Cricket Club from 1997–98 to 2013–14 and for Surrey County Cricket Club from 2015 to 2017. He also played for numerous franchise teams. He was born in Matale, Central Province. He was a part of the Sri Lankan squads which won the 2001-02 Asian Test Championship, 2002 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Lalith Wasantha Silva Kaluperuma is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer, who played first-class cricket from 1970 to 1983. He played in Sri Lanka's first Test team in 1982.
The history of cricket in Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia and before 1965 Southern Rhodesia, includes Rhodesia first forming a first-class cricket team in August 1890, and the inaugural Test appearance of Zimbabwe in October 1992.
The history of cricket in Bangladesh predates the foundation of the Bangladeshi state in 1971 by nearly two centuries. Cricket was introduced to Bengal by the British in the eighteenth century but its growth in East Bengal was slow. Following Partition and the creation of East Pakistan, both first-class and Test cricket were played there during the 1950s and 1960s. Although cricket continued to be popular after independence, especially in Dhaka, the country lost first-class status and had to establish itself in international competition as an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Cricket was introduced to Sri Lanka in the first quarter of the 19th century, following colonisation of the island by the British. The earliest known match was recorded in 1832 and the earliest first-class one in 1926. The national team has played Test cricket from 1982. The national team has achieved international success by winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Cricket is played nationwide with Test venues in Colombo, Galle, Kandy and Moratuwa. The country's most notable players include Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Rangana Herath, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Chaminda Vaas. Administration and governance are performed by Sri Lanka Cricket, which was founded in July 1922 as the Ceylon Cricket Association (CCA). The main domestic competition is the Premier Trophy which attained first-class status in 1988.
The Kenyan cricket team toured Sri Lanka from January and February 2002 to play three first-class and three List A matches against Sri Lanka A. Kenya additionally played a two-day tour match against the BCCSL Academy XI which resulted in a draw. The first-class series, dubbed unofficial Test matches, was won by Sri Lanka A 3–nil. The List A series was won by Kenya 2–1.
The M. J. Gopalan Trophy was an annual first-class cricket competition played between Ceylon and Madras between 1952–53 and 2007–08.
In the history of Australian cricket from the 1970–71 season until 1985, notable Australian players include brothers Ian and Greg Chappell, Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Doug Walters.
Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and a former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team. A handy right-handed middle order batter who sometimes plays as the wicket-keeper, Chandimal lead Sri Lanka in the group stages of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in which Sri Lanka ended up as the champions.
Narangoda Liyanaarachchige Thisara Chirantha Perera, popularly as Thisara Perera, is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer who played all formats for the national team. He also captained the team in limited-overs formats. Domestically he plays for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in the Premier Trophy and Premier Limited-Overs Tournament, and the Jaffna Stallions in the Lanka Premier League. Perera has played franchise T20 cricket all around the world for numerous leagues. Primarily a bowling all-rounder, he is an aggressive left-handed batsman who can hit big sixes in death overs and is a useful right-arm medium-fast bowler.
The West Indies cricket team toured Sri Lanka from 1 to 18 December 1993. The tour consisted of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and a one off Test match. This was the first time the West Indies toured Sri Lanka, which hosted the first ever Test match between the two countries. A three-day tour match between West Indies and Sri Lanka Board President's XI was also played at the Galle International Stadium from 3–5 December.
The 2009–10 Inter-Provincial Limited Over Tournament was the second season of the official Limited overs domestic cricket competition in Sri Lanka. Six teams in total, five representing four provinces of Sri Lanka and a Sri Lanka Cricket team participating in the competition. The competition began on 6 February 2010 when Ruhuna elevens played the Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI at Galle International Stadium, in Galle.
Gareth Terence John Townsend played first-class and List A cricket for Somerset from 1990 to 1992. He later played List A cricket for Devon, Surrey and the Minor Counties. He was born at Tiverton, Devon.
Senanayake Mudiyanselage Sachithra Madhushanka Senanayake is a former professional Sri Lankan cricketer who played all three formats of the game and a singer. He is first-class cricketer, who currently plays limited overs cricket. A bowling all-rounder, he bats right-handed and bowls off spin. He has played first-class cricket for the Sinhalese Sports Club since 2006.
Subasinghe Mudiyanselage Ashan Priyanjan is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national side in limited over formats. He is a middle-order batsman and occasionally a right-arm off break bowler.
The Indian national cricket team toured Sri Lanka in January and February 1974 to play two first-class and two limited overs matches against the Sri Lankan national cricket team. There were two further first-class matches against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI. India defeated Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground by 6 wickets but the other three first-class games were impacted by the weather and were drawn. As Sri Lanka had not then achieved Test status, the internationals are classified as first-class matches. The Indian team was captained by Ajit Wadekar and Sri Lanka by Anura Tennekoon.
The Zimbabwean national cricket team toured Sri Lanka in December 1983 and played two first-class matches and three Limited Overs Internationals (LOI) against the Sri Lankan national cricket team. At this time, Sri Lanka had just achieved Test status but Zimbabwe had not. Sri Lanka were captained by Ranjan Madugalle and Zimbabwe by John Traicos. The Zimbabwe team played two first-class matches versus the Sri Lanka Board President's XI at Tyronne Fernando Stadium and a Sri Lankan XI at Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium. Both games were drawn. Zimbabwe also played three limited overs matches against the Sri Lankan XI.
Lyndon Hannibal is a Sri Lankan international cricket umpire and a former first class cricketer.
Lieutenant Colonel Dr John Rajathurai Rockwood, VD was the leading administrator and patron of cricket in Ceylon from 1914 to 1935. He helped put the nation's cricket administration in the hands of the Ceylonese, and served as president of the Ceylon Cricket Association from its formation in 1922 until 1933. A doctor, he was also a commanding officer of the Ceylon Medical Corps.