Established: 1984
Capacity: 35,000
Floodlights: No
Ends: City End, Fort End
Home Team: Galle Cricket Club
Head Groundsman: Jayananda Warnaweera
Test History: 21 Tests; 12 home wins; 4 away wins; 5 draws
Last 10 Tests: 6 home wins; 2 away wins; 2 draws
Last 10 tosses: 8 batted first (7 wins, 1 draw); 2 bowled first (2 draws)

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.

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.

Not surprisingly, then, Galle has been a successful venue for Muttiah Muralitharan. The ground will be remembered as the venue of the off-spinner's 133rd and final Test match, a game in which he claimed a match haul of eight wickets to end his career with a record 800 Test scalps.

Last Time Out
The first of a two-match series that was eventually shared saw the hosts earn a convincing 10-wicket victory inside three days.

New Zealand won the toss and were bowled out for 221 after, understandably, choosing to bat first. Sri Lanka responded with 247 in the face of some inspired bowling from seamer Tim Southee - and gained a slim lead.

The visitors were spun out in the second innings for 118, leaving Sri Lanka just 93 runs to achieve victory. The hosts chased the target down without the loss of a single wicket.

They Said
"New Zealand swung it considerably in the morning and more than we expected. It was a lovely clear morning and we didn't think it would move as much as it did, when they bowled. It perhaps did catch us a little bit by surprise." - Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford was impressed with Southee and company in 2012.

"Usually at Galle, the team that wins the toss and bats first holds the advantage and goes onto win the match. It still looked a very good wicket after the match. When you lose the toss in tough situations, you have to play safe and stay in control." - Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene.

"They haven't won many Tests after Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas retired. So this is our best chance to do well in Sri Lanka. The tour is a big opportunity if we can play to our potential," - Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim.

"I really like it here in Galle. I made my debut here and most of the time I have done well here in Galle." - short and sweet from the prolific Rangana Herath.

"Last time we played here I don't think there was a lot of spin. There was spin, but not excessive spin. Sri Lanka are probably going to go in with two spinners and the way we play them is going to be crucial. The new ball will be crucial and putting the ball in the right area and asking questions. It's not all about spin in this country." - New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor last year.

"Absolutely no blame on the pitch. At Galle when you win the toss and bat first, you're after a total in excess of 400. We weren't able to do that, but I thought the pitch was good. It turned a lot more than we probably anticipated it would on day one of a Test match." - New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum less than five. months ago.

Happy Hunting Ground
With Mahela Jayawardene - and his prolific record at this ground - ruled out of the match due to a finger injury, Kumar Sangakkara sports the best batting statistics at Galle on the back of 1,219 runs in 29 innings. His venue average of 45.14, however, is some 10 runs shy of his impressive career aggregate.

No player holds a candle to the retired Muttiah Muralitharan's 111 wickets, but Rangana Herath is close to halving the tally - thanks to 46 scalps in 14 matches, including a quintet of five-fors, at the impressive average of 20.30.

Bangladesh have never played a Test here, but their slew of spinners should benefit from low and slow conditions primed for turn.

Weather Forecast
There shouldn't be any cricket lost to inclement weather amid anticipation of heat and humidity. Mercury levels will hover in the mid-30 degrees Celsius range across all five days.

Conclusion
21 tosses have brought all of 17 decisions to bat first, with captains opting for the contrary often ending on the losing team. History, then, suggests batting first is a definite advantage.

The pitch traditionally is best for batting on day one and two when the deck provides even pace and bounce. Exposure to the searing Sri Lankan sun causes the surface to deteriorate at a steady pace - and spin generally starts to dominate the game from day three.

It is, therefore, crucial to score big runs in the first innings before the turning ball, with catching vultures crowded around the bat, comes into effect. Reverse swing, meanwhile, will be on offer for those seamers willing to scuff the ball early.

New Zealand enjoyed swing and seam under heavy overhead skies last year, but the weather forecast isn't likely to bring the same this time, instead the hot temperatures expected will play a part in causing the pitch to crack and misbehave as the Test progresses.