From the archives: England v Sri Lanka classic Tests

England's Test summer starts at Lord's on Thursday with the first of two matches against Sri Lanka.

It may be one of Test cricket's newer rivalries, dating back to just 1982, but there has since been no shortage of drama, controversy and outstanding performances during the 26 subsequent meetings between the two sides.

Just the start

Sri Lanka welcomed England to the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo for their maiden Test match in February 1982 and it was immediately clear they had what was required to thrive at the highest level. Spinners Derek Underwood and John Emburey took 14 wickets between them as England - whose team was captained by Keith Fletcher and included Graham Gooch, David Gower, Ian Botham and Bob Willis - emerged the victors by seven wickets. But it was a competitive match throughout with England at one stage reduced to 40-3 in reply to Sri Lanka's 218, which had been underpinned by 65 from Ranjan Madugalle, who is now one of the ICC's top match referees. Gower bailed out the tourists with 89 to see them into a slender first-innings lead and Emburey's 6-33 ensured England faced a run chase of only 171, which Chris Tavare made light work of with 12 fours in his 85.

Lording it

The return fixture took place two years later at Lord's and this time Sri Lanka's batsmen dominated a high-scoring draw. Sent in by England captain Gower, Sri Lanka opener Sidath Wettimuny batted throughout the first two days making 190, his country's record score at the time. Duleep Mendis scored a contrasting century - his 111 came in just over three hours and included 11 fours and three sixes - before Sri Lanka declared at 491-7. Allan Lamb's 107 was the top score as England made 370 in reply by stumps on day four, meaning a draw was by now almost inevitable. Sri Lanka batted throughout the final day, Wettimuny's opening partner Amal Silva helped himself to a maiden Test century and Mendis again provided some middle-order fireworks, hammering 94 at almost a run-a-ball before being one of Botham's six wickets.

Murali magic

Sri Lanka's maiden win in England came in the one-off Test at the end of the 1998 summer. Alec Stewart's men came into the match on a high after beating South Africa 2-1 over five Tests and started well, piling up 445 in their first innings after being sent in to bat at The Oval, including centuries for both Graeme Hick and John Crawley, who were engaged in a 'bat-off' for a place on the winter Ashes tour. But Sri Lanka dominated from the moment they started their reply on the second evening, opener Sanath Jayasuriya leading the way with 33 fours and a six in his 213. Aravinda de Silva also helped himself to 152 as Sri Lanka were finally all out for 591 on the fourth afternoon, a first-innings lead of 146. Muttiah Muralitharan - who had worked his way through almost 60 overs for figures of 7-155 in the first innings - then took centre stage. The spinner bowled another 54.2 overs in the second innings, this time claiming 9-65 as England were bowled out for 181, leaving Sri Lanka a target of 36 to complete the win. Muralitharan's match figures of 16-220 remain the fifth best in Test history.

Thorpe's masterpiece

The high-water mark of Nasser Hussain's England captaincy came with series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the 2000-01 winter tours. The 2-1 victory in Sri Lanka was all the more impre