Lasith Malinga will become one of the oldest quicks to tour Australian shores this century in this month’s three-match Twenty20 series.

The world’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals with 104, Malinga will captain the Sri Lankan side for the series starting on Sunday in Adelaide.

It comes some 15 years after he made his Test debut in Australia in 2004 as a 21-year-old.

Now aged 36, Malinga will become the third-oldest quick to tour Australia this decade, behind only Indian Ashish Nehra in 2016 and New Zealander Chris Smith in 2011.

West Indies great Courtney Walsh, South African Steve Elworthy and Indian Robin Singh are the only older quicks to tour Australia this century.

But Malinga has long showed he still has plenty to offer with the ball.

He was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in this year’s one-day World Cup with 13 at 28.69, before announcing his retirement from 50-over cricket.

The right-armer also took four wickets in four balls in his previous T20 against New Zealand last month, marking the second time he has done so in his career.

Sri Lanka touched down in Australia over the weekend and will begin their tour against a Prime Minister’s XI side in Canberra on Thursday.

They have picked a squad that includes dangerous power-hitters Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella.

Ranked No.7 in the world, Sri Lanka beat Australia 2-1 in their most recent T20 series in 2017 and are also coming off the back of a 3-0 series win over Pakistan.

OLDEST QUICKS TO TOUR AUSTRALIA THIS CENTURY:

Courtney Walsh (West Indies): 38 years and 69 days

Chris Martin (New Zealand): 37 years and 2 days

Steve Elworthy (South Africa): 36 years and 335 days

Ashish Nehra (India, 2016): 36 years and 277 days

Robin Singh (India): 36 years and 136 days

Lasith Malinga (SL): 36 years and 60 days