They’ve been playing Test cricket since 1981, but when it comes to red-ball contests against Australia, Sri Lanka have predominantly found themselves on the receiving end.
Test matches between these two nations have historically seen Australia bludgeoning Sri Lanka into oblivion, even when Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda De Silva were at the peak of their powers.
Especially in Australia, Sri Lanka are yet to win a match against them despite having been a Test cricket nation for over 40 years.
These repeated thrashings were dispersed with sporadic success in the 80s and 90s, however the turn of the century saw Sri Lanka somewhat come to terms with playing Australia in Test cricket.
Red-ball cricket between these two teams suddenly became more competitive and has produced some memorable matches that are certainly worth an honourable mention. Here are my top five best Test matches between Australia and Sri Lanka.
5. December 1989 – 1st Test Match – Brisbane – Draw
Less than five years in after gaining Test match status, Sri Lanka had already turned heads on the international stage when they secured their first ever victory against India in 1985.
They were still considered minnows though and struggled to win away from home. On their second Test tour of Australia in 1989, they certainly got no closer to achieving an overseas win however the way they brought the fight to the Aussies in the first Test at Brisbane remains a match that is still highly regarded to this day, as it heralded the emergence of Aravinda De Silva.
De Silva had been a popular name amongst Aussie fans prior to this tour, as he was the hero behind Sri Lanka’s first ever ODI win against Australia on their soil back in 1985.
Despite his diminutive stature, De Silva had developed a reputation for being an enterprising and attacking batsman, unafraid to take on the likes of Australia’s dangerous fast men like Geoff Lawson, Craig McDermott, Rodney Hogg and Merv Hughes.
After Australia scored 367 in their first innings thanks to an excellent 106 from Tom Moody, many felt Test cricket’s newcomers would be unable to compete given the frailties in their batting and unfamiliarity of Australian conditions.
De Silva thought otherwise. He batted for over eight hours, scoring an incredible 167 which featured a vast array of cuts, pulls, hooks and beautiful on-driving as he came to terms with the extra bounce and seam movement on a spicy ‘Gabba track.
He lifted Sri Lanka to 418 in their first dig, but with no time remaining for Sri Lanka to bat a second innings, the match was declared a draw shortly after Mark Taylor brought up his century on the fifth day.
