Warne-Muralitharan Trophy
The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy is a famous cricket tournament where two cricketing giants, Australia and Sri Lanka, play each other in a tough match. The Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan trophies are named after two of the best bowlers in the history of the game. They made unmatched impacts on the sport. The Australia vs. Sri Lanka Test series has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world over the years. It’s an exciting mix of intense cricket and fierce rivals. Australia most recently contested the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy in January-February 2025, winning the two‑Test series 2-0 over Sri Lanka with a dominant innings win in the first Test and a nine‑wicket chase in the second. The series concluded with Australia’s first Test series whitewash in Asia in almost two decades.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)
Introduction
The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy stands as one of the most distinctive honours in Test cricket, created in 2007-2008 to mark 25 years of Australia-Sri Lanka Test contests. Named after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, the two highest wicket-takers in the format, the trophy captures the essence of their craft with a design featuring casts of their right hands and match-used balls. Its introduction also reflected a moment of sporting diplomacy, with Sri Lanka Cricket formally proposing the idea and Cricket Australia embracing it as a meaningful way to celebrate the rivalry. Over time, the trophy has become part of a broader tradition of commemorative series awards, much like the Border-Gavaskar and Chappell-Hadlee trophies.
The contest itself draws from a long and evolving cricketing relationship. Before the trophy era, Australia and Sri Lanka had already played 18 Tests between 1983 and 2004, with Australia dominating most encounters but Sri Lanka producing landmark moments, including their first Test win over Australia in 1999. The trophy-era matches have continued to highlight contrasting strengths: Australia's pace-driven consistency and Sri Lanka's mastery of spin-friendly conditions. These dynamics have shaped memorable series across both countries, reinforcing the cultural and sporting significance of the rivalry. Broadcasting reach, packed stadiums, and the emotional weight of two legendary names ensure that every edition carries a sense of heritage beyond the scoreboard.
Structurally, the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy is awarded to the winner of each bilateral Test series between the two nations, keeping the format simple and rooted in traditional Test cricket. Australia has secured the majority of series wins, but Sri Lanka's successes, especially at home, have added balance and unpredictability to the contest. The trophy's symbolism resonates strongly with fans who grew up watching Warne and Muralitharan redefine spin bowling, while the series itself provides a window into the history and evolution of Australia-Sri Lanka Test cricket.
Readers who prefer exploring the subject in another language can also read this article in Hindi (वार्न-मुरलीधरन ट्रॉफी हिंदी समीक्षा), gaining additional cultural nuance and a more localised perspective that complements the English section without repeating the same details.
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Current Season
The most recent Warne-Muralitharan Trophy series took place in early 2025 when Australia toured Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. As part of Australia's larger 2025 tour of Sri Lanka, the series was played on the spin-friendly tracks of Galle, a venue famous for exciting Test cricket and challenging conditions for both batters and bowlers. The two Tests produced a strong contest between bat and ball, with Australia ultimately taking the series 2-0.
The Australian team did very well in the first Test, which took place at the famous Galle International Stadium from January 29th to February 2nd, 2025. Australia won easily by an innings and 242 runs, putting on a truly impressive show. As a result of their batters scoring a huge 654 runs in the first innings, Australia proved how well they could play in difficult conditions. The Sri Lankan batting order was put under a lot of pressure by this huge score. In both innings, they were bowled out for low scores, mostly because the Australian bowling attack was so persistent. Australia's dominant first-innings total gave them complete control of the Test and set the tone for the rest of the series.
The second Test, which took place at the Galle International Stadium from February 6th to February 10th, 2025, went in a similar direction, though the scores were slightly different. Australia showed once more that they were the best by winning by 9 wickets. Their hold on the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy was strengthened by this win, confirming that they were the series winners. During the series, both teams had some great moments, but Australia's steadiness in both batting and bowling was too much for Sri Lanka to handle on their home turf. As expected, spin bowlers played a big part. Nathan Lyon was among Australia's key bowlers across the series, while Usman Khawaja's superb double century in the first Test was another standout moment, underlining his ability to bat for long periods in demanding conditions.
Ongoing September 2026 Events
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ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Test | June 17, 2025 – June 13, 2027 | LIVE |
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ICC Women's Championship ODI | February 20, 2026 – April 15, 2029 | LIVE |
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Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 | August 7, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
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England vs Pakistan Test | August 19, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
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Duleep Trophy FC | August 23, 2026 – September 10, 2026 | |
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European T20 Premier League (ETPL) T20 | August 26, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
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Women's Asia Cup T20I | August 28, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
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Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) T20 | September 5–17, 2026 | LIVE |
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Minor League Cricket (MiLC) T20 | September 17, 2026 – October 25, 2026 | |
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Cricket at the Asian Games T20I | September 17, 2026 – October 3, 2026 | |
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South Africa vs Australia Tour | September 24, 2026 – October 31, 2026 |
Ongoing September 2026 Events
|
ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Test | June 17, 2025 – June 13, 2027 | LIVE |
|
ICC Women's Championship ODI | February 20, 2026 – April 15, 2029 | LIVE |
|
County Championship FC | April 3, 2026 – September 27, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's One-Day Cup List A | April 11, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
One-Day Cup List A | July 21, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 | August 7, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
England vs Pakistan Test | August 19, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Duleep Trophy FC | August 23, 2026 – September 10, 2026 | |
|
European T20 Premier League (ETPL) T20 | August 26, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's Asia Cup T20I | August 28, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) T20 | September 5–17, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Minor League Cricket (MiLC) T20 | September 17, 2026 – October 25, 2026 | |
|
Cricket at the Asian Games T20I | September 17, 2026 – October 3, 2026 | |
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South Africa vs Australia Tour | September 24, 2026 – October 31, 2026 |
Previous Seasons
Some Test cricket battles have been going on for a very long time, but the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy is still fairly new. However, it already has a lot of great moments, important milestones, and changing fortunes. The trophy has been fought for seven times since its beginning in 2007-2008. To learn about the background of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, fans often look at these past games to see which teams were stronger, which teams had home-field benefits, and how each series unfolded.
Past Warne-Muralitharan Trophy Editions
- 2024-2025 Series (Sri Lanka)
Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2024-2025 featured the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, contested through a two-Test series played entirely at the Galle International Stadium. Running from 29 January to 9 February 2025, the edition followed the traditional bilateral structure, with no separate finals or divisions. Australia dominated both Tests to secure a 2-0 series win, reclaiming the trophy outright. The opening Test ended in an innings and 242-run victory for Australia, while the second Test was sealed by 9 wickets, reflecting their control across spin-friendly conditions and their ability to adapt quickly to Galle’s coastal turn.
The series stood out for its decisive margins, strong top-order contributions and sustained pressure from Australia’s spin attack, led by Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon. Sri Lanka showed resistance in phases, but Australia’s consistency ensured a clean sweep and a straightforward trophy decision. With the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy continuing to attract interest from fans tracking major Test rivalries, this edition offered clear outcomes, verified results and a compact structure that fits naturally into long-term cricket analysis.
- 2022 Series (Sri Lanka)
The 2022 series, which was played in Sri Lanka, ended in a tie at 1-1, which meant that Australia retained the trophy. The Player of the Series award went to Dinesh Chandimal for Sri Lanka after his strong batting performances. The drawn series underlined Sri Lanka's competitiveness at home and added another closely fought chapter to the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
- 2018-2019 Series (Australia)
The trophy went back to Australia in 2018-2019, and the home team won 2-0 to win it again. Pat Cummins was named Player of the Series for his pace, accuracy, and consistent bowling performances. This showed how strong the Australian team remained across different areas of the game.
- 2016 Series (Sri Lanka)
But things changed a lot in the 2016 series, which was held in Sri Lanka. In a shocking turn of events, Sri Lanka beat Australia 3-0 with the help of experienced spin bowler Rangana Herath. This was Sri Lanka's first series win in the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy. It was also their first-ever Test series win against Australia. Herath was named Player of the Series for his outstanding spin bowling, which showed how powerful home conditions and quality spin could be. This series remains an important part of Warne-Muralitharan Trophy history and highlights how strongly conditions can influence Test cricket.
- 2012-2013 Series (Australia)
Australia kept their winning streak going in the 2012-2013 series by beating Sri Lanka 3-0 at home. Captain Michael Clarke was named Player of the Series because of his strong leadership and batting performances. These early wins established Australia's dominance in the opening years of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
- 2011 Series (Sri Lanka)
Australia won the 2011 series, which was played in Sri Lanka. This time, they won by a score of 1-0 after three Tests and two draws. The Man of the Series award went to Michael Hussey for his strong all-round batting contribution. Nathan Lyon made a memorable start in Test cricket during this series. With his first ball, he bowled Kumar Sangakkara, who was caught behind. This tour showed that Australia could compete and win in tough subcontinental conditions.
- 2007-2008 Series (Australia)
The first series, which took place in Australia in 2007-2008, was won by the home team by a score of 2-0. This was the first time in the history of the trophy that Australia won it. The fact that Brett Lee was named Player of the Series reflected the impact of Australia's fast-bowling attack during the series.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Final Result | Event / Final Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Australia won 2-0 (2 Tests) | Sri Lanka |
| 2022 | -- | -- | Series drawn 1-1 (2 Tests) | Sri Lanka |
| 2018–2019 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Australia won 2-0 (2 Tests) | Australia |
| 2016 | Sri Lanka | Australia | Sri Lanka won 3-0 (3 tests) | Sri Lanka |
| 2012–2013 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Australia won 3-0 (3 tests) | Australia |
| 2011 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Australia won 1-0 (3 tests) | Sri Lanka |
| 2007–2008 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Australia won 2-0 (2 Tests) | Australia |
History and Structure
The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy is more than just a trophy; it's a way to honor and respect Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, two of cricket's most famous players. Leg-spin and off-spin stars changed the way spin bowling was done by amazing spectators with their trickery, variety, and ability to take wickets. Their careers spanned a fair amount of time, and the best parts of Australia-Sri Lanka games were often the individual battles and friendly rivalries that happened on the field. It was a proper respect to their achievements to name the prize after them in 2007-2008. That year was also the 25th anniversary of the first Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka.
The trophy is one of a kind; it has casts of both players' right hands and cricket balls that they used in games during their careers. That personal touch makes the award even more important and shows a clear link to the stars it honors. As a perpetual prize, the winner holds it until the next series, which makes each battle even more important.
For the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, Australia and Sri Lanka usually play a Test series. The number of matches varies but is usually between two and three Tests. These games are part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC). More lately, they have been added to the ICC World Test Championship rounds, giving the teams more important points. As a result of being added to the World Test Championship, each match carries greater significance for both teams, with the points earned contributing to their position in the standings. In the end, the top two teams play in the championship final.
Because of the way the games are set up, each series is a real test of skill, endurance, and planning over several days. ODIs and T20s are fast-paced games, but Test cricket requires patience, toughness, and technical knowledge. It also offers a unique set of challenges and tactical questions to follow throughout the series. Pitches often play a big role, especially in Sri Lanka, where turning tracks can favor spin bowlers. On the other hand, Australian pitches are known for their speed and bounce, which can help fast bowlers and batters who perform well on harder surfaces.
Final Thoughts
It's the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy that represents the spirit of Test cricket: a mix of respect for the game's history, tough competition, and the timeless beauty of the art. It is a strong tribute to the memories of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, two unbelievable spin bowlers whose skills continue to inspire new generations. The battles played under this trophy have created unforgettable moments, from Australia's dominant performances to Sri Lanka's historic rout. Each one has added a new and interesting chapter to the story of the prize.
The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy will continue to be exciting in the years to come. These games will remain important for both Australia and Sri Lanka as they develop new players and look for consistency in the tough world of Test cricket. Test cricket remains a fascinating format, with long games and changing momentum. This makes every match a strategic chess game that keeps fans deeply engaged.
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