 Groundstaff are working frantically to get the stadium ready |
Dates: 18-22 December
Starts: 0430 GMT
Venue: Galle
Coverage: Listen live on BBC 5 Live
Unseasonal rain has left groundstaff battling to get the Galle venue ready in time for the final Test between England and Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Heavy rain left much of the playing area under water on Friday while there was thick mud on one of the boundaries.
There was also no electricity or water inside the buildings for what will be the first Test at the ground since it was devastated by the 2004 tsunami.
But groundsman Jayananda Warnaweera said: "It will be ready come what may."
The stadium had been due to host the first Test of the series but that was changed because of delays in the reconstruction of the ground.
"It has been a long haul but for the people of Galle this is a celebration and we will make it happen," added Warnaweera.
BBC Sport cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: "It's a building site. People are working day and night here trying to get this sorted out and they'll be hard pressed; there isn't even a scoreboard on the ground at the moment.
"It's difficult to see where people are going to sit - there's just areas of sand. The outfield is wet; it's very boggy - there's been a lot of rain in these parts.
"The pitch is OK. It's green and grassy at the moment but I'm sure they'll take that off.
"This is a week for cricket to look at the bigger picture and the terrible damage the tsunami did here three years ago and the scores of people who lost their lives, particularly those just behind the ground here.
"It will be a very poignant week here and that's why people are absolutely desperate for this match to take place."
With a historic Dutch-built fort as its backdrop and views of the ocean, Galle has frequently been described as one of the most beautiful grounds in the world.
England need to win the match to draw the series after Sri Lanka won the first Test and drew the second.
"We're pretty much going to have to take the stance that whatever we have to play on, we'll go out there and play on it. It's as simple as that.
"It's obviously not finished at the moment but they are working very hard and progressing day by day so hopefully as the Test match comes around, it'll be playable out there and we can get on with it," said England batsman Paul Collingwood.
"It's a game we're all looking forward to. It's hard to believe the events what actually happened here three years ago.
"Driving down in the bus from Colombo, the further we got down, there was a real sickening feeling, seeing the destruction that was caused. That's why it's vital to put the smiles back on people's faces and get on with it."
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