Cricket: Sri Lanka to host Australia after 5 years

World's top ranked cricket team in Tests and ODIs, Australia, has confirmed a seven-week bilateral tour to Sri Lanka, which consists of three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s. 

The tour is set to kick off with the first Test on July 26 at Pallekele and will end on September 9 with the second Twenty20 game at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. 
 
"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is pleased to announce the finalised schedule of matches for the forthcoming Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2016. The three Test, five ODI and two T20 tour will begin in Pallekelle on the 26th of July with the first Test and is scheduled to end on the 9th of September with a T20 in Colombo," in a statement SLC said. 
 
"Australia, currently ranked Number 01 in the world at both Tests and ODI, will visit Sri Lanka after five years, and will take on a side that is although depleted from the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena since they last met - dedicated, and doggedly determined to re-establish themselves in the world arena." 
 
"Playing on their home turf, where SLC's 1Team-1Nation campaign is fast re-igniting the almost religious fervour for the sport in our country, Sri Lanka, returning from their summer tour in England, will look to muster all their strengths and perform with passion and commitment, capitalising on the positivity of a series of  administrative and technical developments," the statement issued by SLC goes on to say.  
 
Australia have played 13 Tests in Sri Lanka, winning six, drawing six and losing one in 1999. 

They have also played a total of 25 ODIs - winning nine and losing 13 while in the two T20s played, Sri Lanka have won both games.

Tour Itinerary:

July 26 to 30: First Test at Pallekele

August 4 to 8: Second Test at Galle

August 13 to 17: Third Test at Colombo

August 21: First ODI at Colombo

August 24: Second ODI at Colombo

August 28: Third ODI at Dambulla

August 31: Fourth ODI at Dambulla

September 4: Fifth ODI at Pallekele 

September 6: First T20I at Pallekele 

September 9: Second T20I at Colombo