R. Premadasa Stadium

R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium

Ground information
Location	Maligawatta, Colombo
Coordinates	6°56′22.8″N 79°52′19.3″E / 6.939667°N 79.872028°E / 6.939667; 79.872028Coordinates: 6°56′22.8″N 79°52′19.3″E / 6.939667°N 79.872028°E / 6.939667; 79.872028
Establishment	1986
Capacity	35,000[1][2]
Owner	Sri Lanka Cricket
Operator	Sri Lanka Cricket
Tenants	Sri Lanka Cricket
End names
Khettarama End Maligawatte End
International information
First Test	28 August – 2 September 1992:  Sri Lanka v  Australia
Last Test	16–20 March 2013:  Sri Lanka v  Bangladesh
First ODI	5 April 1986:  Sri Lanka v  New Zealand
Last ODI	24 August 2016:  Sri Lanka v  Australia
First T20I	10 February 2009:  Sri Lanka v  India
Last T20I	9 September 2016:  Sri Lanka v  Australia
As of 9 September 2016 Source: ESPNcricinfo

R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPS) (Sinhalese: ආර්. ප්‍රේමදාස ක්‍රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: ஆர். பிரேமதாச ஸ்டேடியம்; also known as Khettarama Stadium, Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium or simply as the Premadasa Stadium) is a cricket stadium^[3] on Khettarama Road, Maligawatta, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The stadium was, before June 1994, known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium and is today one of the main venues where the Sri Lankan cricket team play, having hosted more than 100 one day international matches. It is the largest stadium in Sri Lanka with capacity of 35,000 spectators. It has capacity exceeding Lord's Cricket Ground. It is nicknamed "Home of Sri Lankan cricket". It was also the stadium where the highest Test score was scored.

History

Early history

The stadium is the brainchild of the late Sri Lankan president Ranasinghe Premadasa, who championed the development of this 40,000-seater concrete bowl, the biggest stadium in Sri Lanka. Opened on 2 February 1986 with a match between a Sri Lanka 'B' side and an England 'B' team, the stadium was built on swampland previously used by monks ferrying across to the Khettarama temple adjacent to it.

Ground history

The inaugural One Day International was played on 9 March 1986, Sri Lanka v Pakistan. On 28 August 1992 it hosted its inaugural Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia. The venue is best remembered for holding the world record for the highest Test total – 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in 1997/1998 in which former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225, the pair sharing a partnership 576 for the second wicket, at that time it was the highest for any wicket in a Test Match. On 10 February 2009 it hosted inaugural T20i match between Sri Lanka & India as well as 1st T20i to be played in Sri Lanka.

A new training center has been developed behind the stadium with 16 practice pitches and dormitories for the Sony Max Cricket Academy which started in 2003.

Renovation

The Premadasa Stadium underwent a reconstruction project in preparation for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The stadium has been undergoing large-scale renovations since 2009. It has had its seating capacity increase from 14,000 to 40,000, the media-box accommodating 200 journalists, and other upgrades. The renovations have cost Sri Lanka Cricket $8 million.^[4]

In July 2010, a report filed by the ICC pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, raised concerns over the condition of the outfield and the pitch claiming he was worried at the slow pace of progress.^[5] Although none of the buildings at the stadium were near completion, the 2nd Test of the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in 2010, was held at the venue in 23–27 November. Sri Lanka Cricket defended choosing the stadium saying that the decision to stage a game was to allow cricketers to acclimatize themselves to the ground ahead of the World Cup games.^[6] The Test match was staged using temporary seating for spectators in a corner of the stadium as only players' pavilions had permanent arrangements. Since the press box was not completed reporters and commentators facing technical difficulties used a makeshift arrangement.

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  Renovated Pavilion B

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The main four public stands were refurbished along with the player dressing room area and the corporate boxes. A VIP car park is in the northern end of the ground.

Stadium plan

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Pavilions A and B are fully equipped with seating in two tiers, lower and higher. Several corporate boxes are built in these two stands. Pavilions C and D are built between the scoreboard in the stadium with a two-tiered seating system. The lower tiers have concrete paving allocated for floor seating and the upper tier includes fully standard seating blocks. The grandstand and top level block above the player pavilions have enhanced quality seating. Pavilions A and B give a moderate view of the scoreboard while the grandstand not only gives good view of the scoreboard but also the game and pitch

After renovation

The R Premadasa Stadium hosted seven successful World Cup matches including a quarter-final and a semi-final. On 10 May 2011 Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga confirmed that first edition of 2011 Sri Lanka Premier League's matches would play at R Premadasa Stadium. The tournament was later postponed till 2012 due to financial complications and internal regime change at Sri Lanka Cricket.

On 21 September 2011, it was announced that the stadium will host fifteen 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches, including semi-finals and the final.^[7]

Ground figures

Test cricket

• The highest Test total at the R Premadasa Stadium is 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka against India in 1997.
• The lowest Test total is 87 by Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in 2005.
• Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 against India in 1997. This remains the highest score at R Premadasa stadium.
• The 36 wickets captured by Muttiah Muralitharan remains the most number of wickets at the R Premadasa stadium.
• The best bowling figures in an innings is 6/18 by Muttiah Muralitharan against Bangladesh in the 2005/06 season.
• Muttiah Muralitharan's 9/60 remains the best bowling figures in a match.

One Day Internationals

• The highest ODI total is 363/5 by India against Sri Lanka on 3 February 2009.
• Sanath Jayasuriya has scored 2514 runs and is the highest by a single player at the Premadasa stadium and he holds the record for being the highest runs scored in a single cricket ground. Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar has scored more than 1000 runs.
• Muttiah Muralitharan with 69 scalps has captured the most number of wickets at the Premadasa stadium.
• The highest individual score at R Premadasa stadium is 169 by Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa in the 2013 season.
• R Premedasa stadium became the first in Sri Lanka and fourth in the world to reach 100 ODIs hosted stadium. (Current 122 ODIs)^[8]
• Lasith Malinga has taken two ODI hat-tricks at this stadium. The first came against Kenya in the 2011 World Cup and the second versus Australia on 22 August 2011

Twenty20 Internationals

• First match played on 10 February 2009 involving Sri Lanka and India
• Highest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium is 205/4 by West Indies against Australia .^[9]
• The lowest Test total is 80 by Afghanistan against England on 21 September 2012.
• Sri Lanka has lost 9 of 10 match played in this ground, which is the worst ground for Sri Lanka in home.

Attendance

Highest attendance records for cricket matches at the R Premadasa Stadium
Number	Teams	Match type	Attendance	Date
1	Sri Lanka v England	One Day International	35,350	16 December 2014
2	Sri Lanka v West Indies	T20 International	35,000	7 October 2012
3	Sri Lanka v New Zealand	One Day International	35,000	29 March 2011
4	Sri Lanka v Pakistan	T20 International	35,000	4 October 2012
5	India v Pakistan	T20 International	34,100	30 September 2012
6	Nagenahira Nagas v Uva Next	T20 Domestic	33,600	31 August 2012
7	Sri Lanka v South Africa	T20 International	33,050	2 August 2013

World Cup Cricket

In 1996 and 2011 ICC cricket world cups R. Premadasa Stadium hosted nine matches including a quarter-final match and a semi-final match. It has hosted the highest number of cricket world cup matches in Sri Lanka.

1996 Cricket World Cup

2011 Cricket World Cup

Group matches

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

ICC Champions Trophy Cricket

The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy was held in Sri Lanka. Nine matches were played in R. Premadasa Stadium including semi-finals and the final. Other matches were played in SSC.

2002 ICC Champions Trophy

Group matches

Semi-finals

Final

ICC World Twenty20

Sri Lanka will host the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Fifteen out of twenty-seven matches were due to play in R. Premadasa stadium, including semi-finals and the final. Other matches will be played in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium.

2012 ICC World Twenty20

Group matches

Super 8s

Semi-finals

Final

Gallery

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  At night, with the lights on (before redevelopment)

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  Pavilion C and D, August 2011

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  Floodlights at the RPS,Colombo

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  Australia took on Sri Lanka in two ODIs,August 2011

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  Premadasa Stadium being fully covered due to rain

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  Ground fully masked by covers,August 2011

See also

• List of international cricket centuries at the R. Premadasa Stadium
• List of international cricket five-wicket hauls at the R. Premadasa Stadium
• List of stadiums by capacity
• List of Test cricket grounds
• List of international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to R. Premadasa Stadium.

• Cricinfo profile on R. Premadasa Stadium