<img title="Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas (left) instructs Vishwa Fernando during a training session in Galle yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2017/jul/vaas-galle.jpg" alt="Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas (left) instructs Vishwa Fernando during a training session in Galle yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI" /> Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas (left) instructs Vishwa Fernando during a training session in Galle yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI
When it comes to playing a Test at home against India, hosts Sri Lanka have always preferred to play the first match of the series at Galle. For Sri Lanka, Galle has been a happy hunting ground against India.
Since 2001 to 2015 Sri Lanka have always played the first match of the series at this scenic venue and they have never lost a game. India played the second match of the 2008 series here because Galle was not ready for an international match following the devastating Tsunami in 2004 and won the match easily.
"Galle is a lucky ground for us," Geoffrey Dabarera, chief curator of Sri Lanka Cricket, told mid-day. " We also like to play here first because of some technical and logistical reasons."
High on grass Interestingly, the pitch for the first Test has a good grass cover, sending a clear indication that the fast bowlers will have plenty to play for. Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Rangana Herath said, "This looks a good pitch. If someone bowls in good areas, there will be good results. Right now it is difficult to predict whether it's going to turn or not, but I am sure there will be some assistance for the spinners on the fourth and fifth days of the Test."
It was the first comment on the pitch from a Sri Lankan involved in match. Otherwise, the Galle track was a well kept secret. Last January, International Cricket Council (ICC)&acirc;u00c2u0080u00c2u0088banned former curator of the Galle International Stadium, Jayananda Warnaweera, for three years for his involvement in 'pitch fixing' in 2015.
Pitch will be good for batting Despite the grass cover, India captain Virat Kohli also thinks that the pitch will be good for batting. "From what we saw yesterday and today, there is good grass cover on the wicket and we expect it to be a good track for batting. The nicely-rolled grass cover is holding the wicket together, but underneath, the surface looks very hard, so I think it should be a very good batting track," said Kohli.
Now the big question is whether the strong Indian batting line-up can change its fortunes despite playing the first game in Sri Lanka's happy hunting ground.

When it comes to playing a Test at home against India, hosts Sri Lanka have always preferred to play the first match of the series at Galle

Galle Test: Can India turn tables on Lanka at their happy hunting ground?

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Galle Test: Can India turn tables on Lanka at their happy hunting ground?

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