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New Zealand Tour of Sri Lanka 2024: Sri Lanka will host New Zealand in the upcoming Two-match Test Series starting on 18 September at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
New Zealand is on a tour of Sri Lanka for the upcoming two-test match series which is part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-2025. This is why both teams will look forward to victory and gain points ahead of the ICC World Test Tournament.
The 1st Test match of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand is scheduled from 18 to 23 September starting at 10:00 AM IST. The 2nd Test match of SL vs NZ will commence on 26 September which concludes on 30th September. Both matches will take place at Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka.
Before the SL vs NZ 1st Test match let’s check out the Galle International Stadium pitch report including overall details, weather report, and Test stats.
Galle International Stadium Overall Details
One of the most picturesque grounds, Galle International Stadium is located near the Galle Fort with its two sides surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Which enhances the overall beauty of Galle’s Cricket Stadium. It is also known as the Esplanade, which originated from French meaning an open clear space typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure.
The stadium has two ends named – City End and Fort End. With 35,000 seating capacity Galle is one of the biggest cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka. Compared to other International cricket stadiums, Galle has a small approx 75 yards or 68 meters of boundaries.
The table shows an overview of Galle International Stadium-
| Galle International Stadium Details | |||
| Location | Near Galle Fort in Galle, Sri Lanka | ||
| Also Known as | The Esplanade | ||
| Ends Name | City End, Fort End | ||
| Capacity | 35,000 | ||
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 65 meter | ||
| Longest Boundary Distance | 68 meter | ||
| Flood Lights | Yes | ||
| Pitch | Grass | ||
Galle International Stadium Pitch Report Ahead of SL vs NZ
The pitch of the Galle International Stadium is spinner-friendly, especially in the red ball cricket. However, the stadium has seen some high scoring during the first innings. But that’s not always the case for the second innings. The spinners get a lot of help from the pitch. This will definitely advantage the Sri Lanka team in the upcoming home test series against New Zealand.
Galle International Stadium Test Records
A total of 44 test matches have been witnessed by the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The batting first team dominated the bowling team by winning 23 games out of 44. On the other hand, the batting second team won 15 games. Only 6 test matches were drawn and went without any result. The average first-inning score is 366 for the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka’s former captain Mahela Jayawardene has a record of 2382 most runs at the Galle Cricket Stadium in the 27 Test matches. The most wickets record is named to Muthiah Muralidaran who took 111 wickets in 15 test matches.
The table below shows all of Galle International Stadium’s records and stats including average score, first match, last match, most runs, most wickets-
| Galle International Stadium Test Records | |||
| Total Test Matches | 44 | ||
| First Match | 03/06/1998 | ||
| Last Match | 16/07/2023 | ||
| Batting 1st Won | 23 | ||
| Batting 2nd Won | 15 | ||
| Tie/Draw | 6 | ||
| Highest Team Total | 704/3 SL vs IRE (2023) | ||
| Lowest Team Total | 73 SA vs SL (2018) | ||
| Average Score | 366 | ||
| Most Runs | Mahela Jayawardene – 2382 runs (27 Matches) | ||
| Most Wickets | Muthiah Muralidaran – 111 Wickets (15 Matches) | ||
Galle International Stadium Pitch Weather Report Ahead of SL vs NZ
For the Galle, the month of September brings rain on any day or hour. During the Sri Lanka and New Zealand Test match the temperature will oscillate between 26° C and 29° C with 80% of rain precipitation. It will be a very humid day with 83% humidity and winds blowing at a speed of 23 km/hour. Cricket fans might face match delays and interruptions due to the rainy sky.
