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Galle groundstaff grit teeth

15/12/2007

Staff at Galle are desperately preparing its International Stadium for its first Test match since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

The ground and the rest of the town on the southern coast of Sri Lanka were devastated by the tsunami disaster but it now looks set to make its return as a Test venue for the first time.

Facilities are extremely limited, however, with no stands constructed and muddy banks in place of the grassy mounds where crowds previously gathered.

Despite the difficulties, made worse by a recent deluge which left much of the outfield more than a little damp underfoot, all involved in the scheduled third Test between Sri Lanka and England are determined the fixture will take place.

"It will be ready come what may," chief groundsman Jayananda Warnaweera said.

"It has been a long haul but for the people of Galle this is a celebration and we will make it happen."

England batsman Paul Collingwood made his Test debut at the ground, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and says "emotional" is a good way of describing his side's feelings.

"When we came down on the bus the mood changed the further we travelled. There was a fairly sombre atmosphere as we got nearer," he said.

"The events that happened here three years ago means you have to put everything into perspective and give them a lot of credit for what they've done to the ground.

"We are just going to have to get on with it. It is going to be a very sad occasion in many ways but we have seen how the Sri Lankan people have reacted to such a disaster. They are trying to rebuild their lives and we will try to put some smiles back on their faces."

England trail 1-0 in the three-match series going into the Galle Test, which begins on Tuesday.