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Test cricket is the oldest form of cricket played at international level. [1] A Test match takes place over a period of five days, and is played by teams representing Full Member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC). [2] [3] Sri Lanka obtained Full Member status of the ICC in 1981, becoming the eighth nation eligible to play Test cricket. [4] The Sri Lanka national cricket team played their first Test match on 17 February 1982 against England, and recorded their first victory in a match against India on 6 September 1985. [5] Since then, they have played nearly 200 matches, against every other Test-playing nation. [6] Sri Lanka holds the world record for the highest team score, which was established against India in 1997. [7] The highest partnership in Test cricket was also established by two Sri Lankan batsmen; Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. [8] Sri Lankan players also hold the highest partnership scores for the second, third, and fourth wickets. [9]
Top order batsman and former captain Jayawardene holds several Sri Lankan batting records. He has scored the most runs for Sri Lanka in Test cricket, and is the record holder for the highest number of centuries as well as the highest number of half-centuries. The 374 Jayawardene made against South Africa in 2006 is the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan cricketer, surpassing the previous best of 340 by Sanath Jayasuriya, which was established in 1997. [10] It is also the fourth-highest individual score in Test cricket. Jayawardene and Jayasuriya are the only Sri Lankan players who have scored triple centuries. [11]
Muttiah Muralitharan, who was hailed by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002 as the "best bowler ever" in Test cricket, dominates the bowling records for Sri Lanka. [12] He is the world record holder for the highest number of wickets, the most number of five wickets per innings, as well as the most number of ten wickets per match. [13] Muralitharan also holds the records for the best bowling average, best figures in an innings, best figures in a match, and best figures in a series. He missed an opportunity to capture all ten wickets in an innings in 2002 against Zimbabwe, when Chaminda Vaas took the last wicket after Muralitharan had taken the previous nine. [14] The Sri Lankan team won an ODI series against Australia in Australia in 2010. However, they are yet to register a Test match win and an ODI series win against India in India, as of 2013.
The top five records are listed for each category, except in " team wins, losses, and draws" and " highest wicket partnerships". Tied records for the fifth place are listed as well. Explanations of the general symbols and cricketing terms used in the list are given below. Specific details are provided in each category where appropriate.
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
† | Player is currently active in Test cricket |
* | Player remained not out or partnership remained unbroken |
♠ | World record |
d | Innings was declared (e.g. 952–6d) |
Date | Starting date of the Test match |
Innings | Number of innings played |
Matches | Number of matches played |
Opponent | The team Sri Lanka was playing against |
Period | The time period when the player was active in Test cricket |
Player | The player involved in the record |
Venue | Test cricket ground where the match was played |
ICC Men's Test Team Rankings | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
1 | Australia | 30 | 3,715 | 124 |
2 | India | 26 | 3,108 | 120 |
3 | England | 30 | 3,151 | 105 |
4 | South Africa | 18 | 1,845 | 103 |
5 | New Zealand | 22 | 2,121 | 96 |
6 | Pakistan | 17 | 1,519 | 89 |
7 | Sri Lanka | 18 | 1,501 | 83 |
8 | West Indies | 19 | 1,563 | 82 |
9 | Bangladesh | 17 | 906 | 53 |
10 | Zimbabwe | 2 | 46 | 23 |
11 | Ireland | 4 | 58 | 15 |
12 | Afghanistan | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Reference: ICC Test Rankings, 2 May 2024 | ||||
"Matches" is no. matches + no. series played in the 12–24 months since the May before last, plus half the number in the 24 months before that. |
A tie can occur when the scores of both teams are equal at the conclusion of play, provided that the side batting last has completed their innings. [15] Only two matches have ended in a tie in Test cricket history, neither of which involved Sri Lanka. [16]
Opponent | 1st Test | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tied | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 14 October 2001 [17] | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bangladesh | 6 September 2001 [18] | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 87.50 |
England | 17 February 1982 [19] | 28 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 28.57 |
India | 17 September 1982 [20] | 35 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 17.14 |
New Zealand | 4 March 1983 [21] | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 26.66 |
Pakistan | 5 March 1982 [22] | 50 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 26.53 |
South Africa | 25 August 1993 [23] | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 22.72 |
Sri Lanka | 8 December 1993 [24] | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 40.00 |
West Indies | 11 October 1994 [25] | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 66.66 |
Total | 235 | 71 | 84 | 80 | 0 | 30.21 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [26] |
Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
563–9d | West Indies | Harare | 27 July 2001 |
544-4d | Pakistan | Harare | 31 January 1995 |
542–7d | Bangladesh | Chittagong | 15 November 2001 |
507–9d | West Indies | Harare | 4 November 2003 |
503–6 | India | Nagpur | 25 November 2000 |
Last updated: 7 August 2015 [27] |
Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
71 | Pakistan | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 26 August 1994 |
73 | Pakistan | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 3 April 2006 |
81 | England | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 15 March 2001 |
82 | India | Sector 16 Stadium, Chandigarh | 23 November 1990 |
82 | England | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 26 May 2011 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [28] |
A Test match is won when one side has scored more runs than the total runs scored by the opposing side during their two innings. If both sides have completed both their allocated innings and the side that fielded last has the higher aggregate of runs, it is known as a win by runs. This indicates the amount of runs that they had scored more than the opposing side. If one side scores more runs in a single innings than the total runs scored by the other side in both their innings, it is known as a win by innings and runs. If the side batting last wins the match, it is known as a win by wickets, indicating the amount of wickets that were still to fall. [15]
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Innings and 254 runs | Zimbabwe | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 14 May 2004 |
Innings and 248 runs | Bangladesh | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka | 27 January 2014 |
Innings and 240 runs | Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 6 May 2004 |
Innings and 239 runs | India | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 23 July 2008 |
Innings and 234 runs | Bangladesh | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 25 June 2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
465 runs | Bangladesh | Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 3 January 2009 |
315 runs | Zimbabwe | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 12 January 2002 |
313 runs | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 11 August 2004 |
288 runs | Bangladesh | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 28 July 2002 |
241 runs | New Zealand | McLean Park, Napier | 11 March 1995 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
10 wickets | Zimbabwe | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 18 September 1996 |
10 wickets | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
10 wickets | India | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 14 August 2001 |
10 wickets | West Indies | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 13 November 2001 |
10 wickets | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 29 November 2001 |
10 wickets | Bangladesh | Shaheed Chandu Stadium, Bogra | 8 March 2006 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
42 runs | Pakistan | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | 15 September 1995 | |
50 runs | Pakistan | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 4 July 2009 | |
57 runs | Pakistan | Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar | 5 March 2000 | |
75 runs | England | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 26 March 2012 | |
88 runs | England | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 1 December 2007 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [30] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 wicket | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 4 August 2006 | |
2 wickets | Pakistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi | 26 February 2000 | |
5 wickets | England | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 13 March 1993 | |
5 wickets | Zimbabwe | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 14 January 1998 | |
6 wickets | Australia | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 9 September 1999 | |
6 wickets | Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 26 November 1999 | |
6 wickets | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 13 July 2005 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [30] |
Kumar Sangakkara is the fifth-highest scoring batsman in Test cricket. [31] Apart from these five players [32]
Runs | Innings | Player | Period |
---|---|---|---|
12,305 | 229 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
11,814 | 252 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
6,973 | 188 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
6,361 | 159 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
5,502 | 156 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [32] |
In cricket, batting average is the mean number of runs scored per innings. It is calculated by dividing total runs scored (including innings where he remained not out) by the number of times the batsman has been dismissed. [33]
Average | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
58.04 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
50.60 | Angelo Mathews† | 2009–Present |
49.84 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
48.76 | Thilan Samaraweera | 2001–2013 |
42.97 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
Qualification: 20 innings Last updated: 29 June 2015 [34] |
Runs | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
374 | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
340 | Sanath Jayasuriya | India | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2 August 1997 |
319 | Kumar Sangakkara† | Bangladesh | Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 4 February 2014 |
287 | Kumar Sangakkara† | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
275 | Mahela Jayawardene | India | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahemedabad | 16 November 2009 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [35] |
Half centuries | Period | |
---|---|---|
52 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
50 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
38 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 1982–2000 |
31 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
30 | Thilan Samaraweera | 2001-2013 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [36] |
Centuries | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
38 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
34 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
20 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
16 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 1999–2013 |
16 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [37] |
Double centuries | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
11 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
7 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
6 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
3 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
2 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [38] |
" Duck" refers to a batsman dismissed without scoring. [39]
Ducks | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
32 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
22 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
17 | Pramodya Wickramasinghe | 1991–2001 |
16 | Rangana Herath | 1999–Present |
15 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [40] |
Runs | Matches | Player | Series |
---|---|---|---|
571 | 2 (3 innings) | Sanath Jayasuriya | India in Sri Lanka, 1997 |
516 | 3 (6 innings) | Kumar Sangakkara† | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2012 |
510 | 2 (3 innings) | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa in Sri Lanka, 2006 |
499 | 2 (3 innings) | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka in Banglandesh, 2013–2014 |
493 | 3 (5 innings) | Aravinda de Silva | Sri Lanka in New Zealand, 1990–1991 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [41] |
Muralitharan, who is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, has taken 5 wickets for the ICC World XI team during a match in 2005, which are not included in this list. [42] Muralitharan and Shane Warne—who ranks second with 708 wickets—are the only bowlers who have captured more than 700 Test wickets. [43]
Wickets | Player | Matches | Period |
---|---|---|---|
795 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 132 | 1992–2010 |
355 | Chaminda Vaas | 111 | 1994–2009 |
263 | Rangana Herath† | 60 | 1999–Pre |
101 | Lasith Malinga | 30 | 2004–2011 |
100 | Dilhara Fernando† | 40 | 2002-2012 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [44] |
Bowling average is the measurement of mean runs conceded per wicket. In calculating this, total amount of runs conceded by the bowler is divided by the number of wickets captured. [33]
Average | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
22.67 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
29.56 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
30.17 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
30.90 | Dilruwan Perera† | 2014–Pre |
31.90 | Jayananda Warnaweera | 1984–1994 |
Qualification: 2,000 deliveries Last updated: 29 June 2015 [45] |
Muttiah Muralitharan's 9 wickets for 51 runs against Zimbabwe is Test cricket's fifth-best bowling figures in a single innings. [46] Also Rangana Herath's 9 wickets for 127 runs against Pakistan is the Best bowling figures by a left hand bowler in Test cricket history. [47]
Bowling | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 wickets for 51 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 4 January 2002 |
9 wickets for 65 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
9 wickets for 127 runs | Rangana Herath | Pakistan | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 15 August 2014 |
8 wickets for 46 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | West Indies | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 22 July 2005 |
8 wickets for 70 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 2 June 2006 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [48] |
The Sri Lankan record of 16 wickets for 220 runs set by Muttiah Muralitharan against England is the fifth-best figures by a bowler in a single Test match. [49]
Bowling | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 wickets for 220 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
14 wickets for 184 runs | Rangana Herath | Pakistan | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 16 August 2014 |
14 wickets for 191 runs | Chaminda Vaas | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 29 November 2001 |
13 wickets for 115 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 4 January 2002 |
13 wickets for 171 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | South Africa | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 20 July 2000 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [50] |
Bowling | Matches | Player | Opponent | Series |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 wickets for 294 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, 2000–2001 |
28 wickets for 649 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Australia | Australia in Sri Lanka, 2003–2004 |
26 wickets for 282 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, 2007 |
26 wickets for 320 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | England in Sri Lanka, 2003–2004 |
26 wickets for 401 runs | 3 | Chaminda Vaas | Zimbabwe | West Indies in Sri Lanka, 2001–2002 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [51] |
Taking five or more wickets in a single innings (called a five-wicket haul, fifer or five-for) is considered a notable achievement for a bowler. [52] Muralitharan is well ahead of other bowlers by number of five-wicket hauls in Tests with 67 to his name; Australian cricketer Shane Warne ranks in second place with 37. [53]
Five wicket hauls | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
67 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
21 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
12 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
5 | Rumesh Ratnayake | 1983–1992 |
4 | Ravindra Pushpakumara | 1994–2001 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [54] |
Muralitharan has taken ten or more wickets per match on more occasions than any other bowler in Test cricket. He has performed this feat 22 times, more than double the number of the bowler ranking second—Shane Warne, who has achieved this on 10 occasions. [55]
Ten wicket hauls | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
22 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
4 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
2 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
1 | Ajantha Mendis† | 2008–Pre |
1 | Upul Chandana | 1999–2005 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [56] |
A "catch" occurs when a ball hit by the batsman in the air is held by a fielder within the field of play, before it hits the ground. In such a case, the batsman is ruled out caught. [57]
Catches | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
205 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
89 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
78 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
77 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 1999–2013 |
70 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [58] |
A wicketkeeper can assist in the dismissal of a batsman by taking a catch or stumping. [59] A catch taken by the wicketkeeper means the batsman will be ruled out caught, although it may be referred to as "caught behind". A stumping occurs when the wicketkeeper catches a ball delivered by the bowler (provided it is a legal delivery) and putting down the batsman's wicket while he is out of his ground. [60]
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
156 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
151 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
119 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
35 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
34 | Amal Silva | 1983–1988 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
131 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
124 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
93 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
33 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
33 | Amal Silva | 1983–1988 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
32 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
26 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
20 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
5 | Pubudu Dassanayake | 1993–1994 |
3 | Mahes Goonatilleke | 1982 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Matches | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
149 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
132 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
132 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000-Pre |
111 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
110 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [62] |
Matches | Player | Period | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 1989–1999 | ||||
38 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1999–2002 | ||||
38 | Mahela Jayawardene | 2006–2009 | ||||
19 | Duleep Mendis | 1982–1987 | ||||
18 | Marvan Atapattu | 2002–2005 | ||||
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [63] |
† denotes current captain.
Won | Player | Matches | Lost | Drawn | % won | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 38 | 12 | 8 | 47.36 | |
18 | Mahela Jayawardene | 38 | 12 | 8 | 47.36 | |
12 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 56 | 19 | 25 | 21.42 | |
8 | Marvan Atapattu | 18 | 6 | 4 | 44.44 | |
7 | Angelo Mathews† | 17 | 5 | 6 | 38.88 | |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [63] |
Sri Lanka holds the most number of partnership records in Test cricket, with the records for the second, third, and fourth wickets. South Africa and Pakistan are ranked second with two records each. [64]
The world record partnership between Jayawardene and Sangakkara for 624 runs, and the partnership between Jayasuriya and Mahanama for 576 runs (which was the previous world record, and is now the second-highest partnership in Tests) are the only Test partnerships to surpass 500 runs. [66] [67]
Runs | Wicket | 1st batsman | 2nd batsman | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Partners | ||||||
624 ♠ | 3rd wicket | Kumar Sangakkara† | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
576 ♠ | 2nd wicket | Sanath Jayasuriya | Roshan Mahanama | India | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2 August 1997 |
438 | 2nd wicket | Marvan Atapattu | Kumar Sangakkara† | Zimbabwe | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 14 May 2004 |
437 ♠ | 4th wicket | Mahela Jayawardene | Thilan Samaraweera | Pakistan | National Stadium, Karachi | 21 February 2009 |
351 ♠ | 6th wicket | Mahela Jayawardene | Prasanna Jayawardene | India | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad | 16 November 2009 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [68] |
j
This is not a Wikipedia article: It is an individual user's work-in-progress page, and may be incomplete and/or unreliable. For guidance on developing this draft, see
Wikipedia:So you made a userspace draft. Find sources:
Google (
books ·
news ·
scholar ·
free images ·
WP refs) ·
FENS ·
JSTOR ·
TWL |
Test cricket is the oldest form of cricket played at international level. [1] A Test match takes place over a period of five days, and is played by teams representing Full Member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC). [2] [3] Sri Lanka obtained Full Member status of the ICC in 1981, becoming the eighth nation eligible to play Test cricket. [4] The Sri Lanka national cricket team played their first Test match on 17 February 1982 against England, and recorded their first victory in a match against India on 6 September 1985. [5] Since then, they have played nearly 200 matches, against every other Test-playing nation. [6] Sri Lanka holds the world record for the highest team score, which was established against India in 1997. [7] The highest partnership in Test cricket was also established by two Sri Lankan batsmen; Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. [8] Sri Lankan players also hold the highest partnership scores for the second, third, and fourth wickets. [9]
Top order batsman and former captain Jayawardene holds several Sri Lankan batting records. He has scored the most runs for Sri Lanka in Test cricket, and is the record holder for the highest number of centuries as well as the highest number of half-centuries. The 374 Jayawardene made against South Africa in 2006 is the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan cricketer, surpassing the previous best of 340 by Sanath Jayasuriya, which was established in 1997. [10] It is also the fourth-highest individual score in Test cricket. Jayawardene and Jayasuriya are the only Sri Lankan players who have scored triple centuries. [11]
Muttiah Muralitharan, who was hailed by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002 as the "best bowler ever" in Test cricket, dominates the bowling records for Sri Lanka. [12] He is the world record holder for the highest number of wickets, the most number of five wickets per innings, as well as the most number of ten wickets per match. [13] Muralitharan also holds the records for the best bowling average, best figures in an innings, best figures in a match, and best figures in a series. He missed an opportunity to capture all ten wickets in an innings in 2002 against Zimbabwe, when Chaminda Vaas took the last wicket after Muralitharan had taken the previous nine. [14] The Sri Lankan team won an ODI series against Australia in Australia in 2010. However, they are yet to register a Test match win and an ODI series win against India in India, as of 2013.
The top five records are listed for each category, except in " team wins, losses, and draws" and " highest wicket partnerships". Tied records for the fifth place are listed as well. Explanations of the general symbols and cricketing terms used in the list are given below. Specific details are provided in each category where appropriate.
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
† | Player is currently active in Test cricket |
* | Player remained not out or partnership remained unbroken |
♠ | World record |
d | Innings was declared (e.g. 952–6d) |
Date | Starting date of the Test match |
Innings | Number of innings played |
Matches | Number of matches played |
Opponent | The team Sri Lanka was playing against |
Period | The time period when the player was active in Test cricket |
Player | The player involved in the record |
Venue | Test cricket ground where the match was played |
ICC Men's Test Team Rankings | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
1 | Australia | 30 | 3,715 | 124 |
2 | India | 26 | 3,108 | 120 |
3 | England | 30 | 3,151 | 105 |
4 | South Africa | 18 | 1,845 | 103 |
5 | New Zealand | 22 | 2,121 | 96 |
6 | Pakistan | 17 | 1,519 | 89 |
7 | Sri Lanka | 18 | 1,501 | 83 |
8 | West Indies | 19 | 1,563 | 82 |
9 | Bangladesh | 17 | 906 | 53 |
10 | Zimbabwe | 2 | 46 | 23 |
11 | Ireland | 4 | 58 | 15 |
12 | Afghanistan | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Reference: ICC Test Rankings, 2 May 2024 | ||||
"Matches" is no. matches + no. series played in the 12–24 months since the May before last, plus half the number in the 24 months before that. |
A tie can occur when the scores of both teams are equal at the conclusion of play, provided that the side batting last has completed their innings. [15] Only two matches have ended in a tie in Test cricket history, neither of which involved Sri Lanka. [16]
Opponent | 1st Test | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tied | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 14 October 2001 [17] | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bangladesh | 6 September 2001 [18] | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 87.50 |
England | 17 February 1982 [19] | 28 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 28.57 |
India | 17 September 1982 [20] | 35 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 17.14 |
New Zealand | 4 March 1983 [21] | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 26.66 |
Pakistan | 5 March 1982 [22] | 50 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 26.53 |
South Africa | 25 August 1993 [23] | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 22.72 |
Sri Lanka | 8 December 1993 [24] | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 40.00 |
West Indies | 11 October 1994 [25] | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 66.66 |
Total | 235 | 71 | 84 | 80 | 0 | 30.21 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [26] |
Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
563–9d | West Indies | Harare | 27 July 2001 |
544-4d | Pakistan | Harare | 31 January 1995 |
542–7d | Bangladesh | Chittagong | 15 November 2001 |
507–9d | West Indies | Harare | 4 November 2003 |
503–6 | India | Nagpur | 25 November 2000 |
Last updated: 7 August 2015 [27] |
Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
71 | Pakistan | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 26 August 1994 |
73 | Pakistan | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 3 April 2006 |
81 | England | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 15 March 2001 |
82 | India | Sector 16 Stadium, Chandigarh | 23 November 1990 |
82 | England | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 26 May 2011 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [28] |
A Test match is won when one side has scored more runs than the total runs scored by the opposing side during their two innings. If both sides have completed both their allocated innings and the side that fielded last has the higher aggregate of runs, it is known as a win by runs. This indicates the amount of runs that they had scored more than the opposing side. If one side scores more runs in a single innings than the total runs scored by the other side in both their innings, it is known as a win by innings and runs. If the side batting last wins the match, it is known as a win by wickets, indicating the amount of wickets that were still to fall. [15]
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Innings and 254 runs | Zimbabwe | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 14 May 2004 |
Innings and 248 runs | Bangladesh | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka | 27 January 2014 |
Innings and 240 runs | Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 6 May 2004 |
Innings and 239 runs | India | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 23 July 2008 |
Innings and 234 runs | Bangladesh | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 25 June 2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
465 runs | Bangladesh | Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 3 January 2009 |
315 runs | Zimbabwe | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 12 January 2002 |
313 runs | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 11 August 2004 |
288 runs | Bangladesh | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 28 July 2002 |
241 runs | New Zealand | McLean Park, Napier | 11 March 1995 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
10 wickets | Zimbabwe | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 18 September 1996 |
10 wickets | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
10 wickets | India | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 14 August 2001 |
10 wickets | West Indies | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 13 November 2001 |
10 wickets | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 29 November 2001 |
10 wickets | Bangladesh | Shaheed Chandu Stadium, Bogra | 8 March 2006 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [29] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
42 runs | Pakistan | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | 15 September 1995 | |
50 runs | Pakistan | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 4 July 2009 | |
57 runs | Pakistan | Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar | 5 March 2000 | |
75 runs | England | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 26 March 2012 | |
88 runs | England | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 1 December 2007 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [30] |
Margin | Opposition | Venue | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 wicket | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 4 August 2006 | |
2 wickets | Pakistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi | 26 February 2000 | |
5 wickets | England | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 13 March 1993 | |
5 wickets | Zimbabwe | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 14 January 1998 | |
6 wickets | Australia | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 9 September 1999 | |
6 wickets | Zimbabwe | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 26 November 1999 | |
6 wickets | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 13 July 2005 | |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [30] |
Kumar Sangakkara is the fifth-highest scoring batsman in Test cricket. [31] Apart from these five players [32]
Runs | Innings | Player | Period |
---|---|---|---|
12,305 | 229 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
11,814 | 252 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
6,973 | 188 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
6,361 | 159 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
5,502 | 156 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [32] |
In cricket, batting average is the mean number of runs scored per innings. It is calculated by dividing total runs scored (including innings where he remained not out) by the number of times the batsman has been dismissed. [33]
Average | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
58.04 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
50.60 | Angelo Mathews† | 2009–Present |
49.84 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
48.76 | Thilan Samaraweera | 2001–2013 |
42.97 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
Qualification: 20 innings Last updated: 29 June 2015 [34] |
Runs | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
374 | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
340 | Sanath Jayasuriya | India | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2 August 1997 |
319 | Kumar Sangakkara† | Bangladesh | Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 4 February 2014 |
287 | Kumar Sangakkara† | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
275 | Mahela Jayawardene | India | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahemedabad | 16 November 2009 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [35] |
Half centuries | Period | |
---|---|---|
52 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
50 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
38 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 1982–2000 |
31 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
30 | Thilan Samaraweera | 2001-2013 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [36] |
Centuries | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
38 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
34 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
20 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
16 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 1999–2013 |
16 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [37] |
Double centuries | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
11 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Present |
7 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
6 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
3 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
2 | Aravinda de Silva | 1984–2002 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [38] |
" Duck" refers to a batsman dismissed without scoring. [39]
Ducks | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
32 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
22 | Marvan Atapattu | 1990–2007 |
17 | Pramodya Wickramasinghe | 1991–2001 |
16 | Rangana Herath | 1999–Present |
15 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [40] |
Runs | Matches | Player | Series |
---|---|---|---|
571 | 2 (3 innings) | Sanath Jayasuriya | India in Sri Lanka, 1997 |
516 | 3 (6 innings) | Kumar Sangakkara† | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in United Arab Emirates, 2011–2012 |
510 | 2 (3 innings) | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa in Sri Lanka, 2006 |
499 | 2 (3 innings) | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka in Banglandesh, 2013–2014 |
493 | 3 (5 innings) | Aravinda de Silva | Sri Lanka in New Zealand, 1990–1991 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [41] |
Muralitharan, who is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, has taken 5 wickets for the ICC World XI team during a match in 2005, which are not included in this list. [42] Muralitharan and Shane Warne—who ranks second with 708 wickets—are the only bowlers who have captured more than 700 Test wickets. [43]
Wickets | Player | Matches | Period |
---|---|---|---|
795 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 132 | 1992–2010 |
355 | Chaminda Vaas | 111 | 1994–2009 |
263 | Rangana Herath† | 60 | 1999–Pre |
101 | Lasith Malinga | 30 | 2004–2011 |
100 | Dilhara Fernando† | 40 | 2002-2012 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [44] |
Bowling average is the measurement of mean runs conceded per wicket. In calculating this, total amount of runs conceded by the bowler is divided by the number of wickets captured. [33]
Average | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
22.67 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
29.56 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
30.17 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
30.90 | Dilruwan Perera† | 2014–Pre |
31.90 | Jayananda Warnaweera | 1984–1994 |
Qualification: 2,000 deliveries Last updated: 29 June 2015 [45] |
Muttiah Muralitharan's 9 wickets for 51 runs against Zimbabwe is Test cricket's fifth-best bowling figures in a single innings. [46] Also Rangana Herath's 9 wickets for 127 runs against Pakistan is the Best bowling figures by a left hand bowler in Test cricket history. [47]
Bowling | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 wickets for 51 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 4 January 2002 |
9 wickets for 65 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
9 wickets for 127 runs | Rangana Herath | Pakistan | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo | 15 August 2014 |
8 wickets for 46 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | West Indies | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 22 July 2005 |
8 wickets for 70 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 2 June 2006 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [48] |
The Sri Lankan record of 16 wickets for 220 runs set by Muttiah Muralitharan against England is the fifth-best figures by a bowler in a single Test match. [49]
Bowling | Player | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 wickets for 220 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | The Oval, London | 27 August 1998 |
14 wickets for 184 runs | Rangana Herath | Pakistan | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 16 August 2014 |
14 wickets for 191 runs | Chaminda Vaas | West Indies | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 29 November 2001 |
13 wickets for 115 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy | 4 January 2002 |
13 wickets for 171 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan | South Africa | Galle International Stadium, Galle | 20 July 2000 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [50] |
Bowling | Matches | Player | Opponent | Series |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 wickets for 294 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, 2000–2001 |
28 wickets for 649 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Australia | Australia in Sri Lanka, 2003–2004 |
26 wickets for 282 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Bangladesh | Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, 2007 |
26 wickets for 320 runs | 3 | Muttiah Muralitharan | England | England in Sri Lanka, 2003–2004 |
26 wickets for 401 runs | 3 | Chaminda Vaas | Zimbabwe | West Indies in Sri Lanka, 2001–2002 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [51] |
Taking five or more wickets in a single innings (called a five-wicket haul, fifer or five-for) is considered a notable achievement for a bowler. [52] Muralitharan is well ahead of other bowlers by number of five-wicket hauls in Tests with 67 to his name; Australian cricketer Shane Warne ranks in second place with 37. [53]
Five wicket hauls | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
67 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
21 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
12 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
5 | Rumesh Ratnayake | 1983–1992 |
4 | Ravindra Pushpakumara | 1994–2001 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [54] |
Muralitharan has taken ten or more wickets per match on more occasions than any other bowler in Test cricket. He has performed this feat 22 times, more than double the number of the bowler ranking second—Shane Warne, who has achieved this on 10 occasions. [55]
Ten wicket hauls | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
22 ♠ | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
4 | Rangana Herath† | 1999–Pre |
2 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
1 | Ajantha Mendis† | 2008–Pre |
1 | Upul Chandana | 1999–2005 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [56] |
A "catch" occurs when a ball hit by the batsman in the air is held by a fielder within the field of play, before it hits the ground. In such a case, the batsman is ruled out caught. [57]
Catches | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
205 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
89 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
78 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
77 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 1999–2013 |
70 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [58] |
A wicketkeeper can assist in the dismissal of a batsman by taking a catch or stumping. [59] A catch taken by the wicketkeeper means the batsman will be ruled out caught, although it may be referred to as "caught behind". A stumping occurs when the wicketkeeper catches a ball delivered by the bowler (provided it is a legal delivery) and putting down the batsman's wicket while he is out of his ground. [60]
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
156 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
151 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
119 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
35 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
34 | Amal Silva | 1983–1988 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
131 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
124 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
93 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
33 | Hashan Tillakaratne | 1989–2004 |
33 | Amal Silva | 1983–1988 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Dismissals | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
32 | Prasanna Jayawardene† | 2000–Pre |
26 | Romesh Kaluwitharana | 1992–2004 |
20 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000–Pre |
5 | Pubudu Dassanayake | 1993–1994 |
3 | Mahes Goonatilleke | 1982 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [61] |
Matches | Player | Period |
---|---|---|
149 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1997–2014 |
132 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1992–2010 |
132 | Kumar Sangakkara† | 2000-Pre |
111 | Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2009 |
110 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1991–2007 |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [62] |
Matches | Player | Period | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 1989–1999 | ||||
38 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1999–2002 | ||||
38 | Mahela Jayawardene | 2006–2009 | ||||
19 | Duleep Mendis | 1982–1987 | ||||
18 | Marvan Atapattu | 2002–2005 | ||||
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [63] |
† denotes current captain.
Won | Player | Matches | Lost | Drawn | % won | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 38 | 12 | 8 | 47.36 | |
18 | Mahela Jayawardene | 38 | 12 | 8 | 47.36 | |
12 | Arjuna Ranatunga | 56 | 19 | 25 | 21.42 | |
8 | Marvan Atapattu | 18 | 6 | 4 | 44.44 | |
7 | Angelo Mathews† | 17 | 5 | 6 | 38.88 | |
Last updated: 29 June 2015 [63] |
Sri Lanka holds the most number of partnership records in Test cricket, with the records for the second, third, and fourth wickets. South Africa and Pakistan are ranked second with two records each. [64]
The world record partnership between Jayawardene and Sangakkara for 624 runs, and the partnership between Jayasuriya and Mahanama for 576 runs (which was the previous world record, and is now the second-highest partnership in Tests) are the only Test partnerships to surpass 500 runs. [66] [67]
Runs | Wicket | 1st batsman | 2nd batsman | Opposition | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Partners | ||||||
624 ♠ | 3rd wicket | Kumar Sangakkara† | Mahela Jayawardene | South Africa | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
576 ♠ | 2nd wicket | Sanath Jayasuriya | Roshan Mahanama | India | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 2 August 1997 |
438 | 2nd wicket | Marvan Atapattu | Kumar Sangakkara† | Zimbabwe | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 14 May 2004 |
437 ♠ | 4th wicket | Mahela Jayawardene | Thilan Samaraweera | Pakistan | National Stadium, Karachi | 21 February 2009 |
351 ♠ | 6th wicket | Mahela Jayawardene | Prasanna Jayawardene | India | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad | 16 November 2009 |
Last updated: 21 June 2015 [68] |
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