How all the nations fared on their Test debut

Sri Lanka (vs England): 17-21 February, 1982

Result: Sri Lanka (218 & 175) lost to England (223 & 171/3) by 7 wickets

Venue: PSS, Colombo

Like other first Test matches, this was a match of firsts for Sri Lanka, especially skipper, Warnapura. Warnapura opened the batting along with Wettimuny, and faced the first delivery from Willis. He also scored the first run for Sri Lanka, and according to a local newspaper, was the first to be hit on the chest.

Warnapura then became the first batsman to lose his wicket. Ranjan Madugalle, who most of today’s generation would only be able to relate to as a match referee (he holds the record for most international matches as match referee, at 564), top-scored for Sri Lanka with 65 runs in the first innings and along with Ranatunga led them to a score of 218 after they were reeling at 34/4.

After a closely contested ODI series, which ended 1-1, England comfortably took the lone Test match by 7 wickets.