Sri Lanka's Test Triumph Down Under

has sri lanka won a test match in australia

Australia and Sri Lanka have faced off in 35 test matches, with Australia winning 22 of them and Sri Lanka winning 5. In 2025, Sri Lanka hosted Australia for a two-test series, which Australia won 2-0. In the first test, Sri Lanka suffered their biggest defeat against Australia, losing by an innings and 242 runs. The second test was held from February 6 to 9, with Australia winning by a large margin to clinch the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy.

Characteristics Values
Total number of matches played between Australia and Sri Lanka 35
Number of matches won by Australia 22
Number of matches won by Sri Lanka 5
Number of drawn matches 8
Number of matches won by Australia in Sri Lanka since 2011 1
Number of matches won by Sri Lanka in Australia 0

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Sri Lanka's biggest defeat

Sri Lanka has faced Australia in 35 test matches, winning 5 of them, while Australia has won 22. Sri Lanka's biggest defeat was during the 2024/25 series, where they lost to Australia by an innings and 242 runs at the Galle International Stadium. This was also Sri Lanka's biggest defeat in Tests, surpassing their loss against India in Nagpur in 2017.

The match was dominated by Australia, who batted 154 overs in their sole innings compared to Sri Lanka's 106.5 overs across two innings. Australia's first innings score was 654/6D, while Sri Lanka managed only 165 and 247 in their two innings. Sri Lanka's batting lineup was described as fragile" and "listless," with a lack of partnerships, discipline, and smart shot selection. They lost 8 wickets in a session before lunch and another 7 between lunch and tea.

Australia's spin-heavy attack proved effective, with left-armer Matthew Kuhnemann taking 9 wickets in the match and Nathan Lyon taking 7. Australia's batting order was also well-planned, with Josh Inglis scoring a rapid century on debut. In contrast, Sri Lanka's top batter, Kamindu Mendis, showed aggression but could not make a significant impact.

The result of this match retained the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy for Australia and highlighted the need for Sri Lanka to regroup and improve before the second Test.

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Australia's highest total in Asia

Australia has achieved several high totals in cricket matches played in Asian countries. Here is a list of some of these high-scoring innings:

654/6 (decl.) against Sri Lanka in Galle:

This total, scored in January 2025, is Australia's highest Test innings total in Asia. It included three centuries, one of which was a double hundred. In response, Sri Lanka had scored 44/3 at the end of the third day. This total of 654/6 (decl.) was also the fourth-highest Test innings total for any non-Asian team playing in Asia.

617 against Pakistan:

Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor and Graham Yallop put together a 217-run partnership to help Australia reach this total in the first innings. Taylor's innings of 334* off 564 balls remains his highest score in Test cricket.

574 against Pakistan:

Despite suffering from severe heat exhaustion, Jones displayed remarkable resilience and scored 210 off 330 balls, including 27 boundaries and 2 sixes. At the time, he was only the second Australian to hit a double century in Asia.

391 against India:

This total was aided by a double century from an Australian batter, who scored 203 off 320 balls, including 15 boundaries and 6 sixes. This was only the fourth double century by an Australian in India.

266-run partnership between Khawaja and Steven Smith:

This record-breaking stand is the third-highest partnership for Australia in Asia. Khawaja's maiden double century came after 142 innings, making him the third-oldest player to achieve this feat in Asia at 38 years and 43 days.

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Sri Lanka's best partnership

Sri Lanka and Australia have played 35 Test matches against each other, with Australia winning 22, Sri Lanka winning 5, and 8 matches ending in a draw. Sri Lanka's biggest defeat to Australia came in 2025 when they lost by an innings and 242 runs.

Despite this, Sri Lanka has had some notable partnerships in their matches against Australia. In the 2024/25 series, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews combined for a 69-run partnership, Sri Lanka's best of the match, to offer some resistance against Australia's bowling attack.

In the same series, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis combined for a half-century partnership, with Jeffrey Vandersay also contributing as Sri Lanka's best bowler in Australia's first innings.

In the second unofficial Test in 2025, Jake Weatherald and Jason Sangha of Australia A had a 209-run third-wicket stand, showcasing their batting prowess.

During the Australian cricket team's tour of Sri Lanka in 2022, Sri Lanka achieved their first-ever innings victory over Australia in a Test match. Dinesh Chandimal scored his first double century in a Test match with 206 not out, while Prabath Jayasuriya took the best bowling figures for a Sri Lankan debutant with 12 for 177.

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Australia's spin-heavy attack

Kuhnemann's nine wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul, showcased his prowess as a spinner. Australia's decision to select three spinners, including Kuhnemann, Lyon, and Todd Murphy, paid off, as they exploited the slow and spin-friendly conditions. This spin-heavy strategy was a significant factor in Australia's dominance, as they outplayed Sri Lanka in both batting and bowling departments.

The Australian spin attack not only claimed crucial wickets but also contained the Sri Lankan batters effectively. The spin trio of Kuhnemann, Lyon, and Murphy captured 17 wickets between them in the first Test, highlighting their effectiveness. Sri Lanka's coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, acknowledged that their spin bowlers operated too slowly, allowing Australia's tweakers to dominate.

Australia's spin-heavy strategy was also evident in the second Test, where they anticipated more spin from the Galle surface. The pitch conditions, with a ''tacky' surface, favored spin bowling, and Australia capitalized on this by posting a formidable total of 6(dec)-654, their highest-ever Test innings total in Sri Lanka. This set the platform for their comprehensive victory, as they attacked Sri Lanka's batters relentlessly.

The success of Australia's spin-heavy approach can be attributed to their adaptability to the pitch conditions and their effective utilization of spin bowlers. By selecting three spinners and exploiting the spin-friendly surfaces, Australia was able to outclass Sri Lanka in their own backyard. This strategy showcased Australia's versatility and their ability to formulate and execute successful game plans.

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Sri Lanka's second-best bowler

In the history of Test matches between Australia and Sri Lanka, the latter has only won 5 out of 35 games. In the 2024/25 test match, Sri Lanka suffered its biggest defeat against Australia.

Another notable mention is Lahiru Kumara, who played only two games in the 2023 ODI World Cup but made an impact with his extra pace and 'X-factor' bowling. In the match against England, he bowled a match-winning spell of 3/35, helping Sri Lanka register their second victory of the campaign.

Lasith Malinga is also worth mentioning, as he was a prominent bowler for Sri Lanka before his retirement in September 2021. He achieved many accolades throughout his career, including being the first bowler to take two World Cup hat-tricks and the first cricketer to take 100 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals.

Frequently asked questions

Sri Lanka has won 5 out of 35 test matches against Australia.

Australia won the match, defeating Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs.

The match was played in Sri Lanka.

Steven Smith was the stand-in captain for Australia in the 2024/25 test match.

Yes, Sri Lanka has won test series against Australia in Asia, with their most recent victory being in 2011.

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