Established: 1984
Capacity: 35 000
Floodlights: No
Ends: City End, Fort End
Home Team: Galle Cricket Club
Test History: 14 Tests; 7 home wins; 3 away wins; 4 draws
Last 10 Tests: 5 home wins; 2 away wins; 3 draws
Last 10 tosses: 7 batted first (4 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat); 3 bowled first (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss)

Overview

Rated as one of the most picturesque grounds in world cricket, the Galle International Stadium is cornered on two sides by the ocean, and is overseen by a 16th century Dutch fort.

But after making its Test debut in 1998, the ground was largely destroyed by the horrific tsunami which struck the region in December 2004.

With politics at boardroom level of Sri Lankan cricket casting doubt over the ground's future, it took donations from the likes of Ian Botham and Shane Warne - who had taken his 500th Test wicket here - to get the stadium's redevelopment back on track.

It eventually completed its recovery in December 2007, when England took on Sri Lanka in the 12th Test to be played at the stadium.

Before the disaster Galle had been a stronghold for Sri Lanka, who had only lost to Australia and Pakistan as the spin-friendly pitch worked in the hosts' favour.

Last Time Out

Sri Lanka pulled of a stunning come-from-behind victory to go one up in there three-match series against Pakistan after the visitors looked well on course to secure the win.

Pakistan skipper Younis Khan put the home side in to bat and it was a frustrating first innings for the hosts, with four batsmen dismissed between 30 and 50. Only opener Tharanga Paranavitana reached a half-century as Sri Lanka stuttered to 292 all out.

In reply Pakistan wracked up 342, with Mohammad Yousuf scoring 112 on his return to the Test arena and Misbah-ul-Haq providing good support with 56. Nuwan Kulasekara was the chief wicket-taker for the hosts, finishing with figures of four for 71.

Sri Lanka's openers had to survive one over at the end of day two, prompting Rangana Herath to open the innings as a night watchman. Herath managed to last longer than his more established partner, Malinda Warnapura who was dismissed off the second ball of the third day, by Umar Gul.

The home side's second innings followed a similar pattern to their first, with five batsmen passing 20 but none able to reach 50. With a 50-run first innings deficit to contend with, Sri Lanka were only able to set a target of 168.

Khurram Manzoor and Khan fell before the conclusion of day three as Pakistan began their chase in shaky style. Regardless, heading into day four requiring just 97 more runs with eight wickets in the bank, Pakistan were certainly favourites.

However, the visitors were undone by super spells from paceman Thilan Thushara and left-arm spinner Herath, who decimated the Pakistani batting order, leaving them reeling at 80 for six within the first seven overs of day four.

Pakistan never recovered and were bowled out for 117, handing Sri Lanka a 50-run win.

They Said

"The satisfaction I get to see the stadium come up again and host cricket matches is something which words cannot express. It is not something that you expect and get but something like an act of God. My dream of having an international stadium in Galle was washed away by the tsunami but it has now been reborn."
Head Groundsman Jayananda Warnaweera speaks to Cricinfo before the first Test at the re-furbished Galle International Stadium in 2007.

Happy Hunting Ground

Despite failing to register a score of any substance in his last trip to Galle, Mahela Jayawardene has a great record at the International Stadium having notched up two double-centuries in his 14 Tests at the ground, with an impressive average of 83.88. Jayawardene also claimed his Test-best bowling figures of two for 32 at Galle.

Muttiah Muralitharan will have been disappointed to have missed out on the Test against Pakistan, especially considering the remarkable success he has enjoyed in Galle. In his 13 Tests at the ground the magician has conjured up 96 wickets - including his 400th in Test cricket - at an average of just 17.72.

With Muralitharan out of action last time around, Rangana Herath returned from nearly three years in the international wilderness to claim five wickets in a man-of-the-match display against Pakistan earlier this year.

Daniel Vettori is the only member of the current New Zealand crop to have played a Test at Galle, and while the Kiwi skipper didn't have much joy with the bat, notching up three-ball ducks in both innings, he was the most successful of the visiting bowlers, picking up four wickets as Sri Lanka strolled to victory by an innings and 16 runs.

Weather Forecast

The weekend's heavy showers are a thing of the past, it seems. However, rain will prove intermittent throughout the five days, but nothing threatening enough to have a severe say on proceedings. An average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is expected, while uncomfortable humidity levels will be typically sub-continental.

Conclusion

As is the case with the majority of tracks in Sri Lanka, the Galle pitch is a slow, spin-friendly affair. The last two Tests have finished in no more than four days, with spinners running riot. More of the same is to be expected.

New Zealand have made no secret of the fact that they are more comfortable against pace than turn, so the groundsman, Muralitharan, Herath and Ajantha Mendis will, no doubt, pounce on this.

Jeetan Patel can anticipate a game alongside, rather than instead of, fellow spinner Vettori for once...