Sri Lanka Under-19s in England 2022/23

The England Under-19s and Sri Lanka Under-19s meet in a bilateral cricket series that functions as a developmental tour rather than a formal league. Organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket, these fixtures are irregular and designed to provide young players with experience in different conditions.

The first recorded series took place in 1992, featuring three Youth Tests. Since then, tours have occurred in 2000, 2005, 2010/11, 2016, 2021/22, 2022 and 2024. The format typically includes a mix of unofficial Youth Tests and official Youth ODIs. For example, the 2022 tour included two Tests and three ODIs, while the 2024 tour featured two Tests and three ODIs. These matches serve to trial talent for future senior squads and allow players to adapt to seam-friendly pitches or other environments they might not encounter in their home countries.

Recent results highlight the competitive nature of the pairing. England Under-19s won the 2024 ODI series 2-1 and the unofficial Test series 1-0. Sri Lanka Under-19s won the 2021/22 ODI series 3-2. Notable individual performances include England’s highest team total of 500 for 9 declared in a 2016 Youth Test and Sri Lanka’s largest margin of victory of 148 runs in a 2021 ODI.

Key players to emerge from these series include Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage and Rocky Flintoff. Unlike the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which is a global championship with a strict qualification pathway, these bilateral tours are invitation-based development fixtures with no global ranking or qualification stakes. England draws players from county cricket structures, while Sri Lanka uses the Super Under-19 Provincial Tournament for selection. The competition remains a vital step for players aiming to reach the international stage.