Australia vs Sri Lanka Head To Head

Cricket has always been a sport that has united nations worldwide. Whether it’s the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or the Trans-Tasman series, the T20 format has only made things more exciting. One of the fiercest rivalries in international cricket is between Australia and Sri Lanka, who have faced each other on numerous occasions. 

Both teams have created some unforgettable memories from the 1995/96 Sri Lankan tour of Australia to the 2019 ICC World Cup. In this blog, we will analyze the head-to-head record between Australia and Sri Lanka and try to decode the intricacies of this rich history.

In all T20 World Cup encounters, Australia and Sri Lanka have crossed paths on four occasions, with the Australians emerging victorious in three matches between them. 

Winners	Margin	Opposition	Ground	Toss	Venues	Date
Australia	7 wickets	Sri Lanka	Dubai	won	Dubai	28 Oct 2021
Australia	81 runs	Sri Lanka	Bridgetown	won	West Indies	9 May 2010
Sri Lanka	6 wickets	Australia	Nottingham	won	England	8 Jun 2009
Australia	10 wickets	Sri Lanka	Cape Town	won	South Africa	20 Sep 2007

AUS vs SL Head to Head Stats In World Cup

Australia, the five-time World Cup champions, and Sri Lanka, who have claimed the ICC World Cup title once, have crossed paths 11 times in the 12 editions of the World Cup. 

An encounter between Australia and Sri Lanka has occurred in every World Cup except for the 1979, 1983, 1987, and 1999 editions. Their first head-to-head clash occurred during the inaugural edition of the Cricket World Cup in 1975. 

Australia posted 328 runs in their allotted 60 overs, featuring a century from Alan Turner (101). The Sri Lankan team struggled to keep up with the required run rate and fell short by 52 runs.

Their next encounter transpired during the 1992 World Cup. Sri Lanka batted first and scored only 189/9 in their 50 overs. The Australians comfortably chased down the target with 7 wickets and 6 overs to spare.

Their subsequent showdown occurred during the 1996 World Cup. The initial match was awarded to Sri Lanka as the Australian team declined to travel to Colombo for security reasons. However, they met again in the tournament’s final in Lahore. 

The Aussies posted a competitive total of 241/7, largely thanks to Mark Taylor’s 74. The Sri Lankan batsmen rose to the occasion, successfully chasing the target in the 47th over with 7 wickets in hand, securing the World Champions title. 

Regrettably for Sri Lanka, this victory marked their last triumph over the Australian team in World Cup matches.

Super Sixes stage of the 2003 edition, Sri Lanka faced a 96-run deficit as they faltered while chasing a challenging target of 342 runs. They met once more in the semi-finals at Port Elizabeth, where a rain-affected game on a slow pitch resulted in Australia posting 212/7 in their 50 overs. 

The Australian bowlers maintained tight lines, and Sri Lanka fell short by 48 runs before rain interrupted the match, causing Sri Lanka to bow out of the tournament.

These island nations clashed twice again in 2007. In a Super 8 match, Sri Lanka scored 226 runs. Australian captain Ricky Ponting fully he run-chase with a maximum, securing a 7-wicket victory with 44 balls to spare. 

They met again in the World Cup final, where Australia exacted revenge, defeating Sri Lanka by 53 runs according to the D/L method and reclaiming the title.

Their only encounter in the 2011 World Cup was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo, with only 32.5 overs being possible in the first innings. In 2015, Australian batsmen dominated the bowlers at the Sydney Cricket Ground, posting an imposing 376 runs. 

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This proved too much for Sri Lanka, who were bundled out for 312, resulting in a 64-run victory for Australia. In the ICC World Cup 2019 competition, Australian captain Aaron Finch’s magnificent 153 powered his team to 334 runs, and Sri Lanka lost the game by 87 runs.

Considering the head-to-head statistics between Australia and Sri Lanka in World Cups, Australia has emerged victorious in 8 out of the 11 matches they have played against Sri Lanka. 

Both teams have claimed a shared record for the largest victory by wickets, with Australia and Sri Lanka each winning once by 7 wickets. Regarding runs, Australia’s biggest margin of victory is 96 runs. The highest team score is Australia (376), while the lowest is Sri Lanka (123).

Date	Winner	Margin	Ground
6/15/2019	Australia	87 runs	The Oval
3/8/2015	Australia	64 runs	Sydney
3/5/2011	NR	–	Colombo (RPS)
4/28/2007	Australia	53 runs	Bridgetown
4/16/2007	Australia	7 wickets	St George’s
3/18/2003	Australia	48 runs	Port Elizabeth
3/7/2003	Australia	96 runs	Centurion
3/17/1996	Sri Lanka	7 wickets	Lahore
2/17/1996	Sri Lanka	Walk over without a ball bowled	Colombo (RPS)
3/7/1992	Australia	7 wickets	Adelaide
6/11/1975	Australia	52 runs	The Oval

Australia vs Sri Lanka Head To Head In Test Matches

Australia and Sri Lanka started their Test rivalry in 1982, which ended in a drawn match at Kandy, Sri Lanka. Since then, both teams have played 31 Test matches, out of which Australia has won 17, lost 8, and 6 were drawn.

Sri Lanka’s biggest Test victory against Australia came in September 2016 when Sri Lanka won the first Test match of the series by a margin of 106 runs. 

Australia’s biggest win over Sri Lanka came in 2007 when they won by an innings and 80 runs in Brisbane. The home team has always been dominant in this battle, with Sri Lanka having more success in their own backyard and Australia dominating in their home conditions.

AUS vs SL Head to Head In ODI

Australia and Sri Lanka have crossed paths in 96 ODIs, with Australia winning 60 and Sri Lanka winning 32, while four games were tied, abandoned, or had no result. One of the most memorable ODIs between both teams came in Colombo in 2011, where Australia were chasing a mammoth 333-run target. 

Shane Watson’s breathtaking 67-ball 105 and Michael Clarke’s blistering 72-ball 117 helped Australia chase down the total with two overs to spare. Australia and Sri Lanka have faced each other six times in the World Cup, with Australia winning four of those matches.

Australia vs Sri Lanka History

• Australia in Sri Lanka (1982/1983): Australia won by an innings and 38 runs. 
• Sri Lanka in Australia (1987/1988): Australia won by an innings and 108 runs. 
• Sri Lanka in Australia (1989/1990): Australia 1 win, 1 draw. 
• Australia in Sri Lanka (1992): Australia 1 win, 2 draws. 
• Sri Lanka in Australia (1995/1996): Australia won all 3 matches. 
• Australia in Sri Lanka (1999): Sri Lanka 1 win, 2 draws. 
• Australia in Sri Lanka (2003/2004): Australia won all 3 matches. 
• Sri Lanka in Australia (2004): Australia 1 win, 1 draw. 
• Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Australia (2007/2008): Australia won both matches. 
• Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Sri Lanka (2011): Australia 1 win, 2 draws. Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Australia (2012-2013): Australia won all 3 matches. 
• Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Sri Lanka (2016-17): Sri Lanka won all 3 matches. 
• Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Australia (2018-19): Australia won both matches. 
• Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Sri Lanka (2022): Australia 1 win, Sri Lanka 1 win.

Conclusion

Australia and Sri Lanka’s rivalry on the cricket field has been intense and captivating. Both teams have produced some memorable contests and great players over the years. It is worth noting that Australia has generally been dominant in their home conditions, while Sri Lanka has competed well on their home soil. 

Although Sri Lanka is not currently among the cricketing elite, they remain a powerful force to be reckoned with. With both teams consistently producing exceptional talent, the future of this rivalry remains bright.

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