Quick answer
The Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy is the cricket ground of Trinity College, set on a hillside above the city about 10 minutes from the Temple of the Tooth. It hosted Test cricket from 1983 to 2007, including Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka in April 1983, and later Tests against Australia in 1999 and 2004. International cricket in Kandy has since moved to Pallekele, but Asgiriya remains the heart of Kandy's school cricket.
Key takeaways
- Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka was played at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy in April 1983.
- The Asgiriya Stadium belongs to Trinity College, one of Sri Lanka's oldest and best-known cricket schools.
- Asgiriya hosted Test matches from 1983 to 2007, before Pallekele took over Kandy's international cricket.
- Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan both grew up in the Kandy area; Sangakkara attended Trinity College.
- The Asgiriya ground is roughly 10 minutes by tuk-tuk from the Temple of the Tooth.
The Asgiriya Stadium
The Asgiriya Stadium is the cricket ground of Trinity College, Kandy, a school founded in 1872 by Anglican missionaries. The ground sits on terraced land on the northern side of the city, near the Asgiriya monastery, and is about 10 minutes by tuk-tuk from the Temple of the Tooth.
From 1983 to 2007, Asgiriya was Kandy's Test venue, and its tight hillside setting, with spectators packed on the banks, made it one of the most distinctive grounds in world cricket. After Pallekele International Cricket Stadium opened in 2009, international matches moved there.
Asgiriya is still a school ground in daily use. Visitors should ask at the college before entering, and should not expect a museum or regular access.
- →Owner: Trinity College, Kandy.
- →Test venue: 1983 to 2007.
- →Today: school and club cricket.
Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka
Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka was a one-off match at Asgiriya in April 1983, only a year after Sri Lanka gained Test status. Australia won comfortably, but the match marked the start of a rivalry that grew into one of the most competitive in Asian cricket.
Australia returned to Asgiriya on later tours, including 1999 and 2004. The 1999 Test is remembered for a serious on-field collision between Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie, and the 2004 Test for a tense Australian win by 27 runs, part of a 3-0 series.
For an Australian fan, standing on the banks at Asgiriya is a link to the earliest days of the rivalry, long before day-night games at the Premadasa or Tests at Galle.
- →1983: Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka.
- →1999 and 2004: later Australian Tests at Asgiriya.
- →Since 2009: Pallekele hosts Kandy's internationals.
Kandy's cricket schools
Kandy's cricket strength comes from its schools. Trinity College, St Anthony's College, Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College have produced many national players, and their matches against each other draw large crowds of old boys, students and families.
The Trinity versus St Anthony's big match, and the Kingswood versus Dharmaraja match, are among the most popular in the hill country. They are usually played early in the year, so they rarely coincide with a mid-year Australian tour.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a visit to a Kandy school ground when access is possible, usually as part of a broader Kandy day.
- →Trinity College: Asgiriya Stadium.
- →St Anthony's College: Katugastota.
- →Big matches: usually early in the year.
Kandy's cricket names
Several of Sri Lanka's greatest players grew up in and around Kandy. Kumar Sangakkara, one of the finest batters of his era, was born in Matale and educated at Trinity College. Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading wicket-taker with 800 wickets, was born in Kandy and went to St Anthony's College, Katugastota.
These links make Kandy a pilgrimage of sorts for fans who grew up watching Australia play against them. There is no formal museum to either player in the city, so the connection is felt mostly through the schools and grounds.
Murali's wicket haul included many against Australia, and his duels with Australian batters in the 1990s and 2000s are part of the shared history of the two teams.
- →Kumar Sangakkara: Trinity College.
- →Muttiah Muralitharan: St Anthony's College.
- →No formal museums: the schools carry the history.
Visiting Asgiriya on a Kandy trip
Asgiriya is easy to add to a day in Kandy before or after a Pallekele match. Combine it with the Asgiriya monastery, one of the two great Buddhist chapters of Kandy, and the Temple of the Tooth, both nearby.
If a school or club match is on, watching from the banks is often welcome, but ask first. Dress respectfully, keep to the edges of the ground and avoid interrupting play or training.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Asgiriya Stadium?
The Asgiriya Stadium is on the northern side of Kandy, on terraced land near the Asgiriya monastery, roughly 10 minutes by tuk-tuk from the Temple of the Tooth. It is the cricket ground of Trinity College and hosted Test matches from 1983 to 2007.
Where did Australia play its first Test in Sri Lanka?
Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka was played at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy in April 1983, a one-off match that Australia won. Sri Lanka had gained Test status only a year earlier, in 1982, and the match began a long rivalry between the two teams.
Is Asgiriya still used for international cricket?
Asgiriya has not hosted a Test since 2007. Kandy's international cricket moved to Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, which opened in 2009, about 30 to 40 minutes east of the city. Asgiriya remains Trinity College's ground and is used for school and club cricket.
Can visitors go into the Asgiriya Stadium?
Asgiriya is a working school ground, not a museum, so access is not guaranteed. Ask at Trinity College before entering, and if a school or club match is on, watching from the edges is often welcome. Dress respectfully and avoid interrupting training or play.
Which famous cricketers come from Kandy?
Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading wicket-taker, was born in Kandy and went to St Anthony's College, Katugastota. Kumar Sangakkara, born in nearby Matale, went to Trinity College. Many other national players have come from Kandy's cricket schools, including Kingswood and Dharmaraja colleges.
What happened at the 1999 Kandy Test?
The 1999 Test at Asgiriya between Sri Lanka and Australia is remembered for a serious collision between Australian captain Steve Waugh and fast bowler Jason Gillespie while chasing a catch. Both were badly injured and taken to hospital. Sri Lanka won the match.
Can you combine Asgiriya with a Pallekele match?
You can. Asgiriya is in Kandy, about 10 minutes from the Temple of the Tooth, and Pallekele is roughly 30 to 40 minutes east. Visit Asgiriya and the monastery in the morning of a rest day, or before an afternoon game at Pallekele.