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Rain and pitch threaten to overshadow Galle Test

Rain and an unpredictable pitch for today's final Test between England and Sri Lanka may overshadow cricket's return to Galle following the 2004 tsunami tragedy that destroyed the stadium.

The series decider with Sri Lanka 1-0 up will be the first big match in Galle following the devastation that killed an estimated 31,000 people in Sri Lanka.

The re-built stadium was inaugurated by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday.

"I promise a good result-oriented match if the weather holds," Galle's stadium manager Jayananda Warnaweera said. "Hopefully the Lord is on our side this time."

However, wet weather has been forecast over the next five days and both teams will wait till this morning before naming their playing XIs.

Sri Lanka may include leg-spinner Malinda Bandara for the first-time in the series to partner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sri Lankan vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara was unsure how the re-laid wicket will behave, but believed a low-scoring game may be on the cards.

"A few practice games produced low scores but it is difficult to predict how it will behave through the Test," he said.
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