The Sri Lankan cricket team toured Australia from 6 December 2012 to 28 January 2013. The tour consisted of three Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Tests were played for the Warne–Muralidaran Trophy. The Test series was preceded by a match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI and Sri Lankans.

Australia won the test series in a 3-0 whitewash, the ODI series was drawn 2-2 and Sri Lanka won the T20I series 2-0.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara scored his 10,000th career run in the Melbourne Test, tying the record for the fastest player to achieve the milestone.

Australian cricketer Michael Hussey retired from Test cricket after the final test in Sydney.

Background Immediately prior to the series, Australia played a home series against South Africa, and lost the series 1-0. At the end of that series, Ricky Ponting, the second highest run scorer in Tests and former Test captain, retired.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka enjoyed some success at a home series against New Zealand, winning an ODI series and drawing a Test series 1-1.

Squads On 20 November 2012, Sri Lanka announced a 16-man Test squad.

Australia announced a 12-man squad for the first Test in Hobart on 6 December 2012. Phillip Hughes was selected to replace Ricky Ponting, who retired after the preceding South African series. Jackson Bird (to replace the injured Ben Hilfenhaus) and Usman Khawaja (to cover for Michael Clarke) were the additions after to the Australian squad the first Test. Glenn Maxwell was picked to replace vice-captain Shane Watson after he was injured in the Boxing Day Test. Lahiru Thirimanne and Suranga Lakmal were called up for the final test.

Sri Lanka announced a squad for the limited overs series on 2 January 2013, while Australia announced a squad (for the first two ODIs) on 6 January 2013, Mike Hussey was not picked, while Michael Clarke, David Warner, Shane Watson and Matthew Wade were rested. Before the start of the second ODI, Mitchell Starc was replaced by Kane Richardson after complaining of calf soreness. The rested Australian players (excluding Shane Watson) returned to the squad after the 2nd ODI. Jackson Bird was added for cover after the 3rd ODI.

Australia announced a squad for the T20I series on 21 January 2013.

Tests ODIsT20Is Michael Clarke (c) Shane Watson (vc) Ed Cowan Ben Hilfenhaus* Phillip Hughes Michael Hussey Mitchell Johnson Nathan Lyon Peter Siddle Mitchell Starc Matthew Wade (wk) David Warner Jackson Bird* Usman Khawaja** Glenn Maxwell Mahela Jayawardene (c) Angelo Mathews (vc) Tillakaratne Dilshan Kumar Sangakkara (wk) Tharanga Paranavitana Thilan Samaraweera Prasanna Jayawardene (wk) Rangana Herath Nuwan Kulasekara Shaminda Eranga Suraj Randiv Dinesh Chandimal (wk) Chanaka Welagedara Nuwan Pradeep Dhammika Prasad Dimuth Karunaratne Lahiru Thirimanne Suranga Lakmal Michael Clarke (c) George Bailey (c) Phillip Hughes Usman Khawaja Aaron Finch David Hussey Brad Haddin (wk) Glenn Maxwell Steven Smith Mitchell Johnson Ben Cutting Mitchell Starc Clint McKay Xavier Doherty Kane Richardson*** David Warner Matthew Wade (wk) Moises Henriques Jackson Bird Mahela Jayawardene (c) Angelo Mathews (vc) Tillakaratne Dilshan Upul Tharanga Lahiru Thirimanne Dinesh Chandimal (wk) Lasith Malinga Nuwan Kulasekara Thisara Perera Akila Dananjaya Ajantha Mendis Jeevan Mendis Suranga Lakmal Rangana Herath Kusal Perera (wk) Shaminda Eranga George Bailey (c) Ben Cutting Xavier Doherty James Faulkner Aaron Finch Ben Laughlin Shaun Marsh Glenn Maxwell Mitchell Starc Adam Voges Matthew Wade (wk) David Warner Angelo Mathews (c) Mahela Jayawardene Tillakaratne Dilshan Upul Tharanga Lahiru Thirimanne Dinesh Chandimal (wk) Lasith Malinga Nuwan Kulasekara Thisara Perera Akila Dananjaya Ajantha Mendis Jeevan Mendis Suranga Lakmal Rangana Herath Kusal Perera (wk) Shaminda Eranga

* Replaced the injured Ben Hilfenhaus after the first Test. ** Was added as cover for Michael Clarke in the final two tests *** Replaced Mitchell Starc after the first ODI

Tour matches

CA Chairman's XI v Sri Lankans

Test series (Warne–Muralitharan Trophy)

1st Test

Before the start of the Test, the Blundstone Arena pitch was criticized because it had produced many low scores during Sheffield Shield matches earlier in the season.

Match Report: Day 1 Australia won the toss and chose to bat. David Warner and Phillip Hughes batted together for most of the morning session, before Warner (57) was run out just before lunch. After lunch, Hughes and Shane Watson put on a partnership, before Sri Lanka dismissed both with a wicket on either side of tea. Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey added 101 runs in the evening session, and at stumps Australia was 4/299.

Day 2 Rain delayed the start of Day 2 by 50 minutes. After the rain cleared, Sri Lanka dismissed Michael Clarke (74). After lunch, about two and half hours of play was lost due to more rain. After the resumption, Hussey (115*) and Matthew Wade (68*) combined for an unbeaten 146 run partnership, before Clarke declared at 5/450. Sri Lanka's experienced top order failed to build a platform, and Sri Lanka finished the day at 4/87, with Tillakaratne Dilshan not out 50.

Day 3 Sri Lanka made a brisk start to Day 3 and Tillakaratne Dilshan made his second century against Australia. Dilshan (147) and Angelo Mathews (75) added 161 runs for the fifth wicket, before both were dismissed either side of tea. Prasanna Jayawardene (40) and Nuwan Kulasekara (23) added useful runs in the lower order, and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 336, a deficit of 114 runs. Peter Siddle was the best of the bowlers, taking 5/54, and fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus left the field with a side strain, and did not bowl again in the game. Australia survived fourteen overs before stumps, and finished at 0/27.

Day 4 The Australian openers, David Warner (68) and Ed Cowan (56) resumed and made a solid 132 run partnership before a collapse saw Australia fall from 0/132 to 5/181. Michael Clarke (58 retired hurt) and Michael Hussey (31*) took Australia's total to 278, setting a target of 393 for victory. Sri Lanka lost its openers early and at the close of play finished at 2/65.

Day 5 On the last day, the pitch deteriorated with uneven bounce, and Australia was short one bowler due to Ben Hilfenhaus' injury. Attempting to save the Test, Sri Lanka lost only Sangakkara (63) and Mahela Jayawardene (19) before the tea break, but Thilan Samaraweera (49) and Mathews (19), the last two recognised batsmen fell shortly after the tea break; all four of those wickets fell to Peter Siddle (4/50). The last four wickets fell to Mitchell Starc (5/63) over the following hour of play, and Australia won the match by 137 runs inside the final hour of play.

Peter Siddle was named the Man of the match for his match figures of 9/104. There was minor controversy when broadcast footage of the match appeared to show Siddle ball tampering, but the issue was quickly cleared up without any formal complaint against him. Siddle was later cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

2nd Test

Match Report: Day 1 Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat. Australian bowler Jackson Bird made his Test Match debut and took the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne on his tenth ball in Test cricket. Sri Lanka collapsed and was all out for 156; the only highlight for Sri Lanka was top-scorer Kumar Sangakkara (58), who surpassing 10,000 career Test runs in the innings. Mitchell Johnson took 4/63 for Australia. In reply, the Australian openers scored 95 in only 18 overs before David Warner (62) was dismissed. At stumps, Australia was 150/3.

Day 2 Australia batted throughout the second day, with a century to Michael Clarke (106) and half-centuries to Shane Watson (83) and Mitchell Johnson (73* at stumps). At stumps, Australia was 8/440, a lead of 284 runs. Michael Clarke broke Ricky Ponting's record for most runs in a calendar year for an Australian, and Sri Lankan fast bowler Chanaka Welegedara tore his hamstring while bowling and was ruled out for the series.

Day 3 Australia added twenty more runs at the start of Day 3, before being dismissed for 460, a lead of 304 runs; Mitchell Johnson finished not out 92. Sri Lanka's collapsed to 3/3 inside the first two overs, and was dismissed shortly after lunch in the 25th over for 103 (with Welegedara and Prasanna Jayawardene absent hurt and Sangakkara retired hurt), giving Australia a dominant victory by an innings and 201 runs.

3rd Test

Former England cricket captain and Australia's Nine Network commentator Tony Greig, who died between the second and third Tests, was farewelled with a minute's silence and tributes from the commentary team before the match.

Match Report Day 1 Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, and took wickets at regular intervals throughout the day. Lahiru Thirimanne (91) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (72) both scored half-centuries, but the largest partnership was only 62 runs. Sri Lanka was bowled out at stumps for 294. Jackson Bird took 4/41 for Australia.

Day 2 Australia batted solidly to take its total to 4/271 early in the evening session, with David Warner (85), Phillip Hughes (87) and Michael Clarke (50) all scoring half-centuries. At stumps, Australia was 6/342, with a lead of 48 runs, and with Matthew Wade not out 47*.

Day 3 In the morning session, Matthew Wade (102*) batted with the tail to make the second century of his Test career, and to take Australia to 9/432, at which point Michael Clarke declared with a lead of 138 runs. Rangana Herath (4/95) was the best of Sri Lanka's bowlers in the first innings.

In reply, Dimuth Karunaratne (85) and Mahela Jayawardene (60) added 108 runs for the second wicket, taking Sri Lanka to 1/132; but after Karunaratne was dismissed, Sri Lanka lost 5/46, eventually finishing at 7/225 at stumps, a lead of 87 runs.

Day 4 Dinesh Chandimal (62*) batted with the tail to take Sri Lanka's score to 278, and to set Australia a target of 141; Bird (3/76) and Mitchell Johnson (3/34) each took three wickets for Australia.

In the run chase, David Warner was out first ball, and Hughes (34) was dismissed shortly after lunch to leaving Australia at 2/45. But top-scorer Ed Cowan (36) and Michael Clarke (29) put on a 59 run partnership for the third wicket, which was enough of a platform for Australia to reach the target with five wickets in hand. Herath (3/47) was again Sri Lanka's leading wicket taker for the innings.

The Man of the Match award went to Jackson Bird (4/41 & 3/75).

ODI series

1st ODI

Match Report

Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Three debutants were named in the XI for Australia.

Australia made a steady start to the innings (0/53) before Aaron Finch (16) and Usman Khawaja (3) were dismissed. Phillip Hughes and skipper George Bailey (89) amassed a 140-run partnership with Hughes (112) making a century on debut. Some late hitting from David Hussey (60*) saw Australia post a score of 5/305.

Sri Lanka began the innings with two early wickets, before Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal steadied the innings to take the score to 2/111. Dilshan (51) was then run out, and shortly afterwards, Glenn Maxwell inflicted two run-outs in successive balls (including Lahiru Thirimanne for a diamond duck) to reduce Sri Lanka to 5/128 in the 30th over. Sri Lanka was ultimately dismissed for 198 in the 40th over, with Dinesh Chandimal (73) top-scoring, and Clint McKay (4/33) finishing with the best bowling figures. Phillip Hughes was named Man of the match for his century on debut.

2nd ODI

Match Report