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The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Matches have produced a long international rivalry spanning more than four decades. The two sides first met in a Test match in 1982, while their ODI rivalry began in the same year. T20I meetings followed in 2006.
Through September 2026, England and Sri Lanka have met 39 times in Tests, 85 times in ODIs and 21 times in T20Is according to the latest Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians records. England have the stronger overall record in Tests and T20Is, while the ODI rivalry has been much more closely contested.
The most recent bilateral meetings came in September 2026, when England hosted Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs. England won the T20I series 3-0 and then won the ODI series 2-1.
Sri Lanka Vs England Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry has developed across all three men’s international formats. England have won more Test and T20I matches, while the ODI record remains comparatively close.
The Test record currently stands at 19 England wins, nine Sri Lanka wins and 11 draws from 39 matches. In ODIs, England have 42 wins to Sri Lanka’s 39, with three no-results and one tie. In T20Is, England lead 17-4 from 21 matches.
| Format | Matches | England Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | Draws | No Result | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 39 | 19 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 85 | 42 | 39 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| T20Is | 21 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 145 | 78 | 52 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
The figures above use the format-specific ACS records available through September 2026. The ODI record includes one tied match and three no-results, while the Test record contains 11 draws.
Test Matches
The Test rivalry began on February 17, 1982, at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. England won the inaugural Test by seven wickets.
Since then, the teams have played 39 Tests. England have won 19, Sri Lanka have won nine and 11 have been drawn. No Test between the sides has ended in a tie.
| Test Statistic | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 39 | 39 |
| Wins | 19 | 9 |
| Draws | 11 | 11 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
| Losses | 9 | 19 |
The Test rivalry has included several notable performances from both sides. England’s highest listed innings total against Sri Lanka is 575/9 declared, made at Lord’s in 2014. Sri Lanka have also produced large totals in the series, although the ACS progressive record highlights England’s major scoring milestones over the decades.
England’s lowest all-out score against Sri Lanka is 81, recorded at Galle in 2007. The record also lists several historic England centuries, including Graham Gooch’s 174 at Lord’s in 1991.
ODI Matches
The ODI rivalry between Sri Lanka and England is one of the more closely fought bilateral records involving the two teams.
The first ODI took place on February 13, 1982, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. Through September 27, 2026, the teams had played 85 ODIs, with England winning 42 and Sri Lanka winning 39. Three matches ended without a result and one ended in a tie.
| ODI Statistic | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 85 | 85 |
| Wins | 42 | 39 |
| Losses | 39 | 42 |
| No Results | 3 | 3 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
England’s highest ODI score against Sri Lanka is 357/3, made at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in January 2026. Sri Lanka’s highest ODI total against England listed in the ACS records is 324/9.
The ODI record also includes one of the most memorable individual innings in the rivalry: Jason Roy’s 162 at The Oval in 2016. Roy’s score remains England’s highest individual ODI score against Sri Lanka in the listed records.
T20I Matches
England and Sri Lanka first met in men’s T20I cricket on June 15, 2006, at Southampton.
Through September 19, 2026, the sides had played 21 T20Is. England had won 17 and Sri Lanka four, with no tied or abandoned result counted in the ACS head-to-head record.
| T20I Statistic | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 21 | 21 |
| Wins | 17 | 4 |
| Losses | 4 | 17 |
| No Results | 0 | 0 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
England’s T20I dominance has become particularly pronounced in recent years. The September 2026 series completed an England 3-0 sweep, while the third match extended England’s winning run against Sri Lanka in the format to 15 consecutive matches, according to Reuters.
England’s highest T20I total against Sri Lanka is 254/4, made in Southampton on September 15, 2026. Sri Lanka’s highest is 189/5, recorded at Pallekele in February 2026.
First Sri Lanka Vs England Matches
The first meetings between the teams occurred in the early 1980s.
Their first Test was played in February 1982 in Colombo, while their first ODI followed immediately afterward at the same venue. England won the inaugural Test and the first ODI.
The first T20I took place much later, in June 2006, at Southampton. England won that match by two runs after Sri Lanka finished on 163 in reply to England’s 161/5.
| Format | First Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 17 Feb 1982 | Colombo | England won by 7 wickets |
| ODI | 13 Feb 1982 | Colombo | England won |
| T20I | 15 Jun 2006 | Southampton | England won by 2 runs |
These matches established three separate strands of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Matches rivalry.
Important Test Matches
The Test rivalry has featured several significant series and individual performances.
One notable period came during England’s 2000s home series against Sri Lanka, when the sides played several high-scoring Tests. England’s record includes totals of 529/5 declared in 2002, 545 in the same year, 551/6 declared in 2006 and 575/9 declared in 2014.
Sri Lanka have also produced important Test victories. Their nine wins include successes at home and in England, contributing to a rivalry that has frequently featured long, tactical matches and drawn Tests.
| Test Record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Tests | 39 |
| England wins | 19 |
| Sri Lanka wins | 9 |
| Draws | 11 |
| England highest listed total | 575/9 declared |
| England lowest all-out total | 81 |
| First Test | 17 Feb 1982 |
The latest Test meeting was the third Test of Sri Lanka’s 2024 tour of England, completed on September 6, 2024. Sri Lanka won that match by eight wickets.
Important ODI Matches
The ODI rivalry has produced several memorable scorelines and individual performances.
In 2016, Jason Roy scored 162 at The Oval as England posted a major total. The match remains one of the notable batting performances in the head-to-head record.
Another important chapter came in January 2026, when England defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in a three-match ODI series. Sri Lanka won the first match by 19 runs, but England responded with wins by five wickets and 53 runs.
The third ODI in that series was particularly notable because England scored 357/3, with Harry Brook making 136 not out and Joe Root 111 not out. England won by 53 runs and secured the series.
| 2026 ODI | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st ODI, 22 Jan | Sri Lanka won by 19 runs |
| 2nd ODI, 24 Jan | England won by 5 wickets |
| 3rd ODI, 27 Jan | England won by 53 runs |
Important T20I Matches
The T20I rivalry has become increasingly one-sided in England’s favour.
One of the earliest memorable encounters came in the 2012 T20 World Cup, when Sri Lanka defeated England by seven wickets. It remains Sri Lanka’s only victory over England in seven men’s T20 World Cup meetings.
England then developed a long winning sequence against Sri Lanka in bilateral T20I cricket.
In February 2026, England won all three T20Is in Sri Lanka. The third match in Pallekele was particularly close: England made 128/9 and then bowled Sri Lanka out for 116, winning by 12 runs. Jacob Bethell took four wickets for 11 runs.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Jan 2026 | 1st T20I | England won by 11 runs |
| 1 Feb 2026 | 2nd T20I | England won by 6 wickets |
| 3 Feb 2026 | 3rd T20I | England won by 12 runs |
| 15 Sep 2026 | 1st T20I | England won by 119 runs |
| 17 Sep 2026 | 2nd T20I | England won by 6 wickets |
| 19 Sep 2026 | 3rd T20I | England won by 8 wickets |
Sri Lanka Vs England Matches in 2026
The two teams played six white-ball internationals in 2026, with three T20Is followed by three ODIs in January-February and September respectively.
The September tour produced another six-match sequence. England won all three T20Is before Sri Lanka took one ODI and England won the other two.
| Date | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2026 | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 19 runs |
| 24 Jan 2026 | ODI | England won by 5 wickets |
| 27 Jan 2026 | ODI | England won by 53 runs |
| 30 Jan 2026 | T20I | England won by 11 runs |
| 1 Feb 2026 | T20I | England won by 6 wickets |
| 3 Feb 2026 | T20I | England won by 12 runs |
| 15 Sep 2026 | T20I | England won by 119 runs |
| 17 Sep 2026 | T20I | England won by 6 wickets |
| 19 Sep 2026 | T20I | England won by 8 wickets |
| 22 Sep 2026 | ODI | England won by 89 runs |
| 24 Sep 2026 | ODI | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs |
| 27 Sep 2026 | ODI | England won by 223 runs |
The final ODI of September 2026 was England’s largest win of the tour. England scored 355/7, with Tom Banton making 126, before dismissing Sri Lanka for 132. England won by 223 runs and took the ODI series 2-1.
Highest Team Scores
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Matches have produced several substantial team totals.
| Format | England’s Highest Listed Score | Sri Lanka’s Highest Listed Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 575/9 declared | Major totals across Test history |
| ODIs | 357/3 | 324/9 |
| T20Is | 254/4 | 189/5 |
England’s 357/3 against Sri Lanka in January 2026 became their highest ODI total in the head-to-head record. In September 2026, England then raised their T20I benchmark to 254/4 at Southampton.
Key Records
The rivalry contains a wide range of individual and team records.
| Record | Player/Team | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Most England ODI runs in an innings | Jason Roy | 162 |
| Major England T20I innings | Harry Brook | 114* |
| England’s highest ODI total | England | 357/3 |
| England’s highest T20I total | England | 254/4 |
| Sri Lanka’s highest T20I total | Sri Lanka | 189/5 |
| England’s highest listed Test total | England | 575/9d |
| Best England T20I bowling listed | Jacob Bethell | 4/11 |
| England ODI record through Sep 2026 | England wins | 42 |
| Sri Lanka ODI record through Sep 2026 | Sri Lanka wins | 39 |
The 2026 T20I record includes Harry Brook’s unbeaten 114 in Southampton and Jacob Bethell’s 4/11 in Pallekele.
Recent Match Results
The most recent completed matches between the sides were the September 2026 white-ball series in England.
England won the three-match T20I series without losing a game. The first match was a 119-run victory, followed by a six-wicket win in Cardiff and an eight-wicket win in Manchester.
The ODI series was more competitive. Sri Lanka won the second ODI by 16 runs, but England won the first and third games by 89 and 223 runs respectively to take the series 2-1.
| Series | Result |
|---|---|
| 2026 T20I series | England won 3-0 |
| 2026 ODI series | England won 2-1 |
| 2026 ODI in January | England won 2-1 |
| 2026 T20I series in Sri Lanka | England won 3-0 |
| 2024 Test series | Sri Lanka won final Test 1-0 in the match |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Matches: Overall Summary
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Matches represent a rivalry that has evolved from Test cricket in the early 1980s into a comprehensive three-format contest.
England have the stronger Test record, with 19 wins compared with Sri Lanka’s nine. The ODI record is much tighter, with England leading 42-39 after 85 matches. T20I cricket has produced the clearest statistical difference, with England winning 17 of the 21 meetings.
The 2026 season added another significant chapter. England won both T20I series against Sri Lanka during the year and won the January and September ODI series 2-1. The September ODI series ended with a 223-run England victory at The Oval.
With more than 140 men’s international meetings across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, the fixture remains one of the established matchups in international cricket.
FAQs
1. How many matches have Sri Lanka and England played against each other?
Through September 2026, Sri Lanka and England had played 39 Tests, 85 ODIs and 21 T20Is, giving a combined total of 145 matches in the format-specific ACS records.
2. Who has won more Test matches between Sri Lanka and England?
England have won 19 of the 39 Tests between the teams, while Sri Lanka have won nine. Eleven Tests have ended in draws.
3. How many ODIs have Sri Lanka and England played?
The teams have played 85 men’s ODIs through September 27, 2026. England have won 42, Sri Lanka 39, three have ended without a result and one has been tied.
4. What is England’s biggest T20I score against Sri Lanka?
England’s highest listed T20I total against Sri Lanka is 254/4, scored in Southampton on September 15, 2026. Harry Brook made 114 not out in that innings.
5. What was the latest Sri Lanka vs England match?
The latest completed men’s international meeting was the third ODI on September 27, 2026, at The Oval. England scored 355/7 and bowled Sri Lanka out for 132, winning by 223 runs and taking the ODI series 2-1.
