Spinner Rangana Herath enjoys his dominance over South Africa in a recent series in Colombo, won by Sri Lanka 2-0.
Sri Lanka has a big international cricket schedule leading up from this month (September) through to January-February when the team will be in Australia for a two-Test series.
The action starts on September 15 when Sri Lanka takes on Bangladesh in the six-team Asia Cup in Dubai – a one-day series that will determine the Asian champions. Hong Kong was the final team to make the draw after winning the qualifying tournament in Malaysia.
The Asia Cup final will be held on September 28.
In November, England arrives in Sri Lanka for a testing tour of five one-day internationals, one T20I and three Tests.
After comprehensively beating South Africa 2-0 in the recent series at home, Sri Lanka is level in the Test rankings with England on 97 points. A series win against England could help the team to jump into fifth place.
The England series is also expected to be the last for grand, old master spinner Rangana Herath, who has taken 430 wickets from 92 Tests is set to overtake Sir Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev to finish on seventh in the all-time wicket-takers’ list.
After a break over Christmas, Sri Lanka will tour Australia in January-February for a two-Test series, including a pink-ball day-night Test at the Gabba.
The Brisbane Cricket Ground (The Gabba) that traditionally hosted the first Test of the Australian summer has been demoted, and as a result it will be the venue for the Australia-Sri Lanka first Test over the Australia Day weekend. The second Test will be played from February 1 to 5 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
The Tests will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Sports.
ASIA CUP IN DUBAI
Sep 15, Sat: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 1st match, Group B.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Sep 16, Sun: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, 2nd match, Group A.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Sep 17, Mon: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd match, Group B.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sep 18, Tue: India vs Hong Kong, 4th match, Group A.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Sep 19, Wed: India vs Pakistan, 5th match, Group A.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Sep 20, Thu: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 6th match, Group B.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sep 21, Fri: Start of Super 4 matches.
Sep 28, Fri: Final.
ENGLAND IN SRI LANKA
Oct 10, Wed: 1st ODI, 7pm AEST.
Dambulla
Oct 13, Sat: 2nd ODI, 2.30pm AEST.
Dambulla
Oct 17, Wed: 3rd ODI, 7pm AEST.
Pallekele
Oct 20, Sat: 4th ODI, 2.30pm 7pm AEST.
Pallekele
Oct 23, Tue: 5th ODI, 7pm AEST.
Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Oct 27, Sat: Only T20I, 11.30pm 7pm AEST.
Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Nov 6-10: 1st Test, 2.30pm AEST.
Galle International Stadium
Nov 14-18: 2nd Test, 2.30pm 7pm AEST
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Nov 23-27: 3rd Test, 2.30pm 7pm AEST.
SRI LANKA IN AUSTRALIA
Jan 24-28: 1st Test Start 1pm, AEST.
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba.
February 1-5: 2nd Test Start 10am AEST
Manuka Oval, Canberra.
