The Sri Lanka National Men's Cricket Team, nicknamed The Lions, represents Sri Lanka in men's international cricket. It is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) status. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation. The team is administered by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage Dilshan, commonly known as Tillakaratne Dilshan is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team. He studied at the Kalutara Vidyalaya. He is often regarded as the best rated Sri Lankan player in run-chases in ODI history. Dilshan is considered to be a rare example of a cricketer with notable skills in all aspects of the game, who can bat, bowl, field and keep wicket. He is an aggressive right-hand batsman who invented the scoop, which has come to be known as the Dilscoop, a shot that hits the ball over the keeper. Apart from being an opening batsman, he is also a capable off-break bowler. Energetic in the field, he usually fields at the point region.
Kulasekara Mudiyanselage Dinesh Nuwan Kulasekara is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. Kulasekara was number one in the ODI bowlers rankings on 11 March 2009 and remained in that position until 26 September of that year becoming the only Sri Lankan to achieve the feat. He was educated at Bandaranayake College, Gampaha.
Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath, known as Rangana Herath, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all forms of the game and a former Test captain for Sri Lanka. Herath is the most successful left arm bowler in Test cricket history. He is currently working as spin bowling consultant with the Bangladesh cricket team.
Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is the current consultant coach of Sri Lanka national cricket team. He is the most successful captain for Sri Lanka along with Sanath Jayasuriya. During the time of his captaincy, he was known mainly for his tactical acumen for decades and was rewarded for his captaincy instincts.
The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium(RPS) is a cricket stadium on Khettarama Road, Maligawatta, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The stadium was, before June 1994, known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium and is today one of the main venues where the Sri Lankan cricket team play, having hosted more than 100 one day international matches. It is the largest stadium in Sri Lanka with a capacity of 50000 spectators. It has hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 finals between Sri Lanka and West Indies, 2002 ICC Champions Trophy finals between Sri Lanka and India and first semi final of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. This was where the highest Test score in the history was recorded; 952 by Sri Lanka against India. With capacity exceeding The Lord's stadium in England, the stadium is known as the "home of Sri Lankan cricket".
Ranasinghe Arachchige Suranga Lakmal is a former professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who played in all formats of the game and is a former Test cricket captain. He is a right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman. He started his cricket life in Debarawewa National School, Tissamaharama. He was first included in the national squad for the tour of Pakistan in 2008-2009 and was reported to have been injured in the attack on the Sri Lankan team by terrorists.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka. In July 2010, The Central Provincial Council in Kandy announced plans to rename the stadium to honour the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, but hasn't officially done so yet. The stadium was opened on 27 November 2009 and became the 104th Test venue in the world in December 2010.
The Sri Lankan cricket team toured South Africa from 9 December 2011 to 22 January 2012. The tour included three Tests and five One Day Internationals (ODIs) between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
The Sri Lankan cricket team toured Australia from 6 December 2012 to 28 January 2013. The tour consisted of three Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Tests were played for the Warne–Muralidaran Trophy. The Test series was preceded by a match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI and Sri Lankans.
The Pakistan national cricket team toured Sri Lanka in August 2014 to play a two-match Test series against the Sri Lankan national cricket team followed by a three-match series of One Day Internationals (ODI). Sri Lanka won the Test series 2–0 and the ODI series 2–1.
The Pakistan cricket team toured Sri Lanka from 11 June to 1 August 2015. The tour consisted of a three-day tour match against a SLCB President's XI, three Test matches, five One Day International and two Twenty20 International matches. The third Test was originally scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium, but was changed to the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in early May.
The West Indies cricket team toured Sri Lanka in October/November 2015 to play two Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. Starting with this series, all bilateral Test tours between the West Indies and Sri Lanka will be called the Sobers–Tissera Trophy. Sri Lanka won the Test series 2–0, the ODI series 3–0 with the T20I series was drawn 1–1.
The Sri Lanka cricket team toured New Zealand in December 2015 and January 2016 to play two Test matches, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The 2016–17 Zimbabwe Tri-Series was a One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament that was held in Zimbabwe in November 2016. It was a tri-nation series between the national representative cricket teams of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The Sri Lankan team were originally scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for two Tests, three ODIs and one Twenty20 International (T20I). However, the ODIs and T20I were replaced by this tri-series.
The Sri Lanka cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in September and October 2017 to play two Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Pakistan cricket team. It included the first Tests that Sarfaraz Ahmed of Pakistan captained following the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq. The tour also featured a T20I match in Pakistan, the first time that Sri Lanka had visited the country since 2009.
The Sri Lankan cricket team toured the West Indies in June 2018 to play three Test matches. The series was played for Sobers–Tissera Trophy. The tour featured Sri Lanka's first Test matches in the West Indies since April 2008 and included their first Test match at the Kensington Oval. The Test match at the Kensington Oval also became the first day/night Test to be played in the West Indies. Ahead of the Test matches, there was a three-day tour match. The Test series was drawn 1–1.
The England cricket team toured Sri Lanka in October and November 2018 to play three Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 International (T20I) match. The tour included England's first Test matches in Sri Lanka since 2012.
The West Indies cricket team toured Sri Lanka in February and March 2020 to play three One Day International (ODI) and two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The full schedule for the tour was confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket on 21 January 2020. The West Indies last toured Sri Lanka in October and November 2015.
