Quick answer
Groundhopping in Sri Lanka means ticking off eight Test grounds, Galle, the SSC, the P Sara Oval, the Premadasa, Pallekele, Asgiriya, the Colombo Cricket Club ground and Moratuwa's Tyronne Fernando Stadium, plus the white-ball venues at Dambulla and Hambantota, and historic club and school grounds such as the NCC, Bloomfield and Radella. Domestic and school matches, often free, are the easiest way to see a game at most of them.
Key takeaways
- Sri Lanka has eight Test grounds, five still in use.
- Dambulla and Hambantota add two white-ball international venues.
- Colombo's Cinnamon Gardens has a cluster of historic club grounds.
- Domestic and school matches make it easy to see a game at most grounds.
- All the main grounds fit in a road trip of about ten days.
The checklist
The current Test grounds are Galle International Stadium, the Sinhalese Sports Club, the P Sara Oval, the R Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The former Test grounds are Asgiriya in Kandy, the Colombo Cricket Club ground and the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa.
The white-ball international venues without Tests are Rangiri Dambulla and the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa, near Hambantota.
That makes ten international grounds in all, a satisfying total for a single trip.
- →Current Test grounds: five.
- →Former Test grounds: three.
- →White-ball only: two.
Club and school grounds
Beyond the international grounds, Colombo's Cinnamon Gardens holds historic club grounds: the Nondescripts Cricket Club beside the SSC, Bloomfield on Reid Avenue and the Racecourse with its restored grandstand. Many other clubs, including services teams, have grounds around the city.
School grounds with long histories include Royal College and S. Thomas' in Colombo, Trinity's Asgiriya in Kandy, Richmond and Mahinda in Galle, and Jaffna Central and St John's in the north.
Regional grounds, such as Welagedara in Kurunegala and Uyanwatte in Matara, and the tea-country ground at Radella complete a serious collection.
School grounds are private, so visits are best made on match days, when spectators are welcome. Big matches between old rivals are spectacular, but even an ordinary weekend fixture lets a groundhopper tick off a historic ground and see future first-class cricketers at close range.
What counts as a tick
Groundhoppers set their own rules. Some count a ground only if they have seen a match there; others are happy to have stood inside the boundary or seen the field from outside.
In Sri Lanka, seeing a match at every ground is possible through domestic and school cricket, which is played at most club, school and regional grounds and is often free to watch. International grounds also host domestic matches.
Lankan Stays & Trails can help groundhoppers plan a route around domestic and international fixtures, with a driver who can adapt as schedules change.
- →Strict: a match seen.
- →Relaxed: inside the boundary.
- →Domestic matches make the strict rule possible.
Planning the route
The ten international grounds fit a road trip of about ten days: Colombo's three plus the CCC in a day, Moratuwa and Galle on the way south, Hambantota near Yala, Asgiriya and Pallekele in Kandy and Dambulla near Sigiriya. Club and regional grounds can be added on the way.
Domestic fixtures change at short notice, so allow flexibility in the route and ask locally about matches. A driver who can switch days is a big advantage.
The companion page on the cricket stadium road trip covers the route in more detail.
- →About ten days for the ten grounds.
- →Allow flexibility.
- →Ask locally about fixtures.
Tips for groundhoppers
Check Sri Lanka Cricket's domestic and international schedules before you go, and ask clubs, hotels and drivers about local matches. School cricket, roughly January to March, adds many fixtures at school grounds.
Ask politely at gates, respect members' areas and ask before photographing inside. Keep a notebook or app record of each ground, with the date and match.
Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and be ready for heat at every ground.
- →Check schedules and ask locally.
- →Respect members' areas.
- →Record each ground.
Why Sri Lanka suits groundhoppers
Few countries pack so many Test grounds into such a small area. Five of the eight are in or near Colombo, and the rest are within a few hours.
The grounds also lead to the island's best sights: Galle Fort, Kandy, Sigiriya, Yala and the tea country. A groundhopping trip doubles as a classic holiday.
And the welcome at club and school grounds, where visitors are rare, makes every tick memorable.
- →Five Test grounds in or near Colombo.
- →Grounds lead to great sights.
- →A warm welcome at club grounds.
Frequently asked questions
How many Test grounds are there in Sri Lanka?
Eight grounds have hosted Tests in Sri Lanka: Galle, the SSC, the P Sara Oval, the Premadasa, Pallekele, Asgiriya, the Colombo Cricket Club ground and Moratuwa's Tyronne Fernando Stadium. Five still host Tests. Dambulla and Hambantota host white-ball internationals only.
What is groundhopping?
Groundhopping is the hobby of visiting as many sports grounds as possible, often with a rule that a match must be seen at each. In cricket, groundhoppers collect Test grounds, county or club grounds and historic venues around the world.
Can I see a match at every Sri Lankan Test ground?
Yes, with planning. Domestic matches are played at most of the grounds, including the former Test grounds, and are often free. International matches add the main stadiums. Allow flexibility, as domestic fixtures change at short notice.
How long does it take to visit all the grounds?
The ten international grounds fit a road trip of about ten days with a driver. Adding club, school and regional grounds, such as the NCC, Bloomfield, Welagedara, Uyanwatte and Radella, takes a few more days.
Which club grounds should groundhoppers visit?
In Colombo, the Nondescripts Cricket Club, Bloomfield and the Racecourse are all near the SSC in Cinnamon Gardens. Elsewhere, school grounds such as Asgiriya in Kandy and Richmond in Galle, and the tea-country ground at Radella, are rewarding.
How do I find domestic fixtures?
Check Sri Lanka Cricket's domestic schedule, ask the clubs directly or ask your hotel or driver. Fixtures can change at short notice, so confirm the day before. Walking past the Cinnamon Gardens clubs on a weekend often reveals a match.
Is Sri Lanka good for groundhopping?
Very. Few countries pack eight Test grounds into such a small area, with five in or near Colombo. The grounds also lead to the island's best sights, and the welcome at club and school grounds is warm.