The bane of the Australian cricketing establishment, Galle International Cricket Stadium was a place that seemed to carry a curse – the location of many defeats and few wins. Sports lovers from around the world can enjoy a test match by day and relax by the Well House pool by night, in stark contrast to the crowd energy at the match.
In a strange twist in the historic stadium’s history, it was an Australian who changed Sri Lanka’s international ranking in his first season as coach. Former Australian Test Cricketer, Dav Whatmore played a significant role in the rise of Sri Lanka as a cricketing nation internationally. He served as the head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team from 1995 to 1999, a period that is widely regarded as the golden era of Sri Lankan cricket. Under his guidance, the team achieved several historic milestones, including winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup. The team, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, defeated Australia in the final to win the coveted trophy.
In addition to the World Cup victory, Whatmore also led Sri Lanka to a number of other successes during his tenure as coach. Under his guidance, Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup in 1997 and 2004 and also reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002.
Whatmore focused on improving the fitness levels of the players, developing a strong team culture, and encouraging the players to play an aggressive brand of cricket. He also worked closely with individual players to refine their skills and develop their mental toughness.
He initially lived in Colombo and later moved to Kandy. He was a popular figure in the country, and his contributions to Sri Lankan cricket are still remembered fondly by fans and players alike.
Whatmore’s greatest achievement as a player was winning the Sheffield Shield with Victoria in 1980-81. He also played seven Test matches for Australia between 1979 and 1985.
As an international coach, Whatmore’s greatest achievement was guiding Sri Lanka to their first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1996. The team played Whatmore’s attacking and entertaining brand of cricket throughout the tournament, and their success helped to raise the profile of the sport in Sri Lanka and inspire a new generation of cricketers.
Cricketing superstar, Australian spin bowler Shane Warne is held in high regard in Galle, primarily because of his outstanding performance in the Test match played at the Galle International Stadium in 2004. In that match, Warne became the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 500 Test wickets, and he achieved this feat in Galle.
Warne’s performance in that match was exceptional as he took a total of 10 wickets, including 6 for 73 in the first innings and 4 for 49 in the second innings, which helped Australia win the match by 197 runs. His spellbinding display of spin bowling on the turning track in Galle is still remembered by Sri Lankan cricket fans. The victory was significant because it was Australia’s first win in Sri Lanka for 22 years. Warne’s performance in the match was exceptional, and he is regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time.
In addition to his performance on the field, Warne also contributed to the restoration of the Galle International Stadium after it was badly damaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He donated a significant amount of money towards the restoration efforts, which helped rebuild the stadium and ensure that it could once again host international cricket matches.
Warne’s contributions to the restoration of the stadium, combined with his historic performance in the Test match played at Galle, have earned him the respect and admiration of Sri Lankan cricket fans. He is still fondly remembered by the people of Galle, and the stadium’s media box has been named after him as a mark of respect for his contribution to the restoration of the ground. His contribution helped to strengthen the cultural ties between Australia and Sri Lanka.
