Galle International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report For SL vs AUS 1st Test

Debashis Sarangi∙ Updated: Jan 28 2025, 11:51 AM

Galle International Cricket Stadium [Source: @michelappleton/X]Galle International Cricket Stadium [Source: @michelappleton/X]

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka will cross swords against Australia in the first Test of the upcoming two-match series. The much-awaited clash will take place at the iconic Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka. 

Led by Pat Cummins, Australia defeated India by 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, securing their spot in the World Test Championship final. The tourists, who have already qualified for the mega clash, will miss Josh Hazlewood and Cummins, who are yet to fully recover from their respective injuries. 

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will pretty much rely on Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Prabath Jayasuriya for an impressive outing in the series. As both teams gear up for a fascinating clash, let's see how the surface at Galle International Cricket Stadium will behave throughout the contest. 

Galle International Cricket Stadium Stats And Records In Tests

Criterion
Data
Matches played46
Matches won batting 1st25
Matches won bowling 1st15
Average 1st innings score369
Average 2nd innings score309
Average 3rd innings score239
Average 4th innings score159


Galle International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

The surface at Galle International Stadium might offer a hint of seam movement to the fast bowlers early on with the new ball, especially in the first session on day 1. However, as the ball gets older, the batters and spinners will enjoy the playing conditions. 

While the track's pace and bounce might aid in stroke play, the batters must exhibit commendable technique to tackle the spinners on this pitch. So, the spinners and the batters who play spin well are expected to play significant role in this match. The pitch in Galle generally gets tougher to bat with time, with the spinners getting sharp turn and bounce as the game progresses. Therefore, the toss-winner will likely bat first. 

Players To Watch Out For At Galle International Cricket Stadium

Prabath Jayasuriya

  • Sri Lanka's premier spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has enjoyed stellar success in Galle, scalping 71 wickets in just eight Tests. He will certainly be the biggest threat to the Australian team. 

Travis Head

  • Swashbuckling batter Travis Head is one of Australia's most prolific batters in recent times. Head's ultra-aggressive game could be a bonus for the visitors, who might otherwise struggle to get going on Galle's spin-friendly track. 

Nathan Lyon

  • Australia's veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been a proven performer for his side in the subcontinent. Lyon has bagged 21 wickets in four Tests at this venue, making him a tricky customer for the opposition. 

P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Asitha Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dhananjaya de Silva and Matthew Kuhnemann.