The scheduled match of Sri Lanka against Australia, Day 2 of 1st Test at Galle International Stadium, has been delayed because of the heavy rain and strong wind. The strong wind then also blew the roof away on a makeshift grandstand at the stadium.
There were no spectators in the stands then, while team Australia only just arrived at the ground. Rain also continued to fall past the scheduled start of play at 10 am local time, with ground staff struggling to keep the entire outfield covered against the wind. Earlier on Wednesday, Nathan Lyon took his 20th five-wicket haul to bowl Sri Lanka out for 212 before Australia reached 98-3 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test.
Lyon went past former New Zealand great Richard Hadlee’s wicket tally of 431 to position himself 12th on the list of highest test wicket takers.
The series is being played for the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, named after the two top bowlers in Test history with 1,508 combined wickets. This is the first series for the trophy after the Australian player Shane Warne passed away in March from a heart attack while vacationing in Thailand.