It was a match — despite involving a senior international team — that was scheduled to be played on a ground where no spectator was allowed to enter. The weather didn’t help the Sri Lankan cause either, as unseasonal rains in the city washed out the first day of their only practice game against the Board President’s XI. And even though the sun shone brightly on Thursday, the lack of personnel and the all-important super-sopper ensured that Day Two didn’t provide any match-practice for the visitors either.

There was some hope of play going into the final day, but even that wasn’t to be as the three-day contest came to an inevitable end, with the match being called off after the umpires inspected the pitch at 11 am.

“The pitch and the outfield were in good condition but it were the four-side wickets on which we practiced on the first two days that were very damp. And the area around the point, cover and mid-off positions were also damp,” explained Sri Lankan manager Brendon Kuruppu. The Lankans, who spent the first two days practicing indoors, weren’t to be deterred as they promptly walked out for a three-hour session on the centre wicket. “It was good to get some practice on the square today. We wouldn’t want anyone getting injured two days before the first Test,” said Kuruppu.

While the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene battled against the spin trio of Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath, the Board President’s XI boys were busy hunting for flight tickets back home and left the ground within minutes of the match being called off.

... contd.