View source for Asgiriya Stadium

{{short description|Cricket stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox cricket ground
| ground_name     = Asgiriya Stadium
| nickname        = 
| image           = Dharmaraja-Kingswood.JPG
| caption         = 104th [[Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter]]
| country         = Sri Lanka
| location        = [[Asgiriya]], [[Kandy]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|7.29998|80.63406|type:landmark_region:LK |display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| establishment   = {{Start date and age|1915|01|15|df=y}}
| seating_capacity= 10,300
| owner           = [[Trinity College, Kandy|Trinity College]]
| operator        = Trinity College
| tenants         = {{plainlist|
*[[Sri Lanka Cricket]]
*[[Kandy Cricket Club]]}}
| end1            = Hunnasgiriya End
| end2            = Hanthana End
| international   = true
| firsttestdate   = 22–26 April
| firsttestyear   = 1983
| firsttesthome   = Sri Lanka
| firsttestaway   = Australia
| lasttestdate    = 1–5 December
| lasttestyear    = 2007
| lasttesthome    = Sri Lanka
| lasttestaway    = England
| firstodidate    = 2 March
| firstodiyear    = 1986
| firstodihome    = Sri Lanka
| firstodiaway    = Pakistan
| lastodidate     = 16 December
| lastodiyear     = 2001
| lastodihome     = West Indies
| lastodiaway     = Zimbabwe

| firstwodidate   = 29 November 
| firstwodiyear   = 1997
| firstwodihome   = Sri Lanka
| firstwodiaway   = Netherlands 
| lastwodidate    = 25 April 
| lastwodiyear    = 2004
| lastwodihome    = Sri Lanka 
| lastwodiaway    = India 
| year1           = 1983–2007
| club1           = [[Sri Lanka national cricket team]]
| date            = 19 August 
| year            = 2024
| source          = http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59329.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Asgiriya Stadium''', ({{langx|si|අස්ගිරිය ක්‍රීඩාංගනය}}, {{langx|ta|அஸ்கிரிய மைதானம்}}) is a [[cricket]] ground located in [[Kandy]], [[Sri Lanka]]. Uniquely owned by [[Trinity College, Kandy]], it is situated a short distance away from the city centre. Historically, it was a prominent venue for Test matches when international teams toured Sri Lanka. Asgiriya gained fame as the country's second [[Test cricket]] ground in 1982–83 when it hosted [[Greg Chappell]]'s [[Australian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1982–83|Australian team]], following in the footsteps of the [[Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium]].<ref name="Asgiriya">{{cite web |url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2023/04/26/from-a-hill-to-a-cricket-ground-the-asgiriya-stadium/ |title=From a hill to a cricket ground – The Asgiriya stadium |publisher=[[Trinity College, Kandy|Trinity College]] |last1=Senhas |first1=Chaniru |last2=Pathiraja |first2=Nimuthu |first3=Anandakumar |last3=Rehan |date=26 April 2023 |accessdate=27 March 2024 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327072348/https://trinitycollege.lk/2023/04/26/from-a-hill-to-a-cricket-ground-the-asgiriya-stadium |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Before Asgiriya was built, Trinity College played its cricket matches at [[Bogambara Stadium]]. In 1904, when Rev. [[Alec Garden Fraser]] became Principal, he recognised the need for a suitable playing field and cricket pitch for the school. Fraser acquired an abandoned wasteland owned by the [[War Office]], located in Asgiriya, just 270 meters from the school. The annual lease for this land was Rs. 30. In 1910, Trinity received permission to construct its own ground. Construction commenced in 1910 and was completed by 1915.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/test-venues-in-sri-lanka-part-1/ |title=Test venues in Sri Lanka: The Oldies |publisher=ThePapare |last=Sridheran |first=Sharmeegan |date=6 May 2020 |accessdate=19 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819054953/https://www.thepapare.com/test-venues-in-sri-lanka-part-1/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Governors of British Ceylon|Governor]] Sir [[Robert Chalmers, 1st Baron Chalmers|Robert Chalmers]] officially opened the ground on 15 January 1915. The inaugural inter-school match was contested between Trinity and [[S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia]], on 24 and 25 February of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2011/01/30/spo08.asp |title=Great cricketers have played on Trinity College grounds |publisher=Sunday Observer |last=Marikar |first=Hafiz |date=30 January 2011 |accessdate=19 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819060944/https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2011/01/30/spo08.asp |url-status=live}}</ref>

==International cricket venue==
{{See also|List of Test cricket grounds}}

Prior to achieving Test status, Sri Lanka was mandated by the [[International Cricket Council|International Cricket Conference]] to enhance the infrastructure of its international cricket grounds. In response, [[Gamini Dissanayake]], a former Trinity student and then Chairman of [[Sri Lanka Cricket|Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka]], spearheaded a rapid transformation of Asgiriya Stadium into an international venue. This project was completed within a short span of 150 days. [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] [[J. R. Jayewardene]] officially inaugurated the stadium on 5 January 1982. The stadium's pavilion was also opened by the President that same year.<ref name="Asgiriya"/><ref name="PB">{{Cite book |last=Baxter |first=Peter |url=https://www.google.lk/books/edition/Can_Anyone_Hear_Me/M6Hm4b5M60IC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Can Anyone Hear Me?: Testing Times with Test Match Special on Tour |date=2012-11-01 |publisher=Icon Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-906850-49-4 |language=en}}</ref>

Asgiriya Stadium hosted its first international cricket match against Australia in the 1982–83 season, becoming Sri Lanka's second Test venue after the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium. It is also the 54th ground to host men's Test cricket.<ref name="SLvA-OT">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=SL vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, Only Test at Kandy, 22–26 April 1983 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-sri-lanka-1982-83-61412/sri-lanka-vs-australia-only-test-63342/full-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207044243/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-sri-lanka-1982-83-61412/sri-lanka-vs-australia-only-test-63342/full-scorecard |archive-date=2024-12-07 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Asgiriya Stadium – Statistics |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/ground/59329.html?class=1;template=results;type=aggregate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211040321/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/ground/59329.html?class=1;template=results;type=aggregate |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Fifteen years after hosting its first Test match, Asgiriya Stadium witnessed Sri Lanka's first Test victory at the venue in 1998 against [[Zimbabwe cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1997–98|Zimbabwe]].<ref name="SLvZ-1T">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=SL vs ZIM Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Kandy, 7–11 January 1998 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-tour-of-sri-lanka-1997-98-62009/sri-lanka-vs-zimbabwe-1st-test-63781/full-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619222948/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zimbabwe-tour-of-sri-lanka-1997-98-62009/sri-lanka-vs-zimbabwe-1st-test-63781/full-scorecard |archive-date=2024-06-19 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

This success was followed by an even more historic triumph in [[Australian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1999|1999]] when Sri Lanka defeated Australia for the first time in Test cricket. The match is infamous for the horrific collision between [[Steve Waugh]] and [[Jason Gillespie]], which resulted in serious injuries to both players and necessitated their airlift to [[Colombo]] for medical treatment.<ref name="FC-15A">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-news-steve-waugh-reveals-gruesome-moment-that-changed-everything/news-story/a8aeab4c3fcafcfdff61584e36e745ca |title=Steve Waugh reveals gruesome moment that changed everything |publisher=foxsports.com.au |last=Matthey |first=James |date=15 August 2020 |accessdate=14 February 2025 |archive-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224154433/https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-news-steve-waugh-reveals-gruesome-moment-that-changed-everything/news-story/a8aeab4c3fcafcfdff61584e36e745ca |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SLvA-1T">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=SL vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Kandy, 9–11 September 1999 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-sri-lanka-1999-61418/sri-lanka-vs-australia-1st-test-63845/full-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219180500/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-sri-lanka-1999-61418/sri-lanka-vs-australia-1st-test-63845/full-scorecard |archive-date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TEW">{{Cite book |last=Stern |first=John |url=https://www.google.lk/books/edition/The_Essential_Wisden/ne8EAQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=The Essential Wisden: An Anthology of 150 Years of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |last2=Williams |first2=Marcus |date=2014-01-07 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-4081-7896-6 |pages=531 |language=en}}</ref>

The ground regularly hosted Test matches until the [[English cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2007–08|2007-08 series against England]]. The [[English cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2007–08#1st Test|1st Test]] of the series, played at Asgiriya from 1–5 December 2007, holds a significant place in cricket history as [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] surpassed [[Shane Warne]] to become the leading [[List of bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket|Test wicket-taker]].<ref name="ESPN-3D">{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/murali-sparks-delirium-in-kandy-323471 |title=Murali sparks delirium in Kandy |publisher=[[ESPNCricinfo]] |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=3 December 2007 |accessdate=27 March 2024 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327080931/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/murali-sparks-delirium-in-kandy-323471 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ALJ-3D">{{Cite web |date=2007-12-03 |title=Murali claims world record |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2007/12/3/murali-claims-world-record |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216052314/https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2007/12/3/murali-claims-world-record |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SLvE-1T">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=SL vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Kandy, 1–5 December 2007 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2007-08-291204/sri-lanka-vs-england-1st-test-291222/full-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113232259/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-sri-lanka-2007-08-291204/sri-lanka-vs-england-1st-test-291222/full-scorecard |archive-date=2025-01-13 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

==Cricket world cup==
{{Main|1996 Cricket World Cup}}

Asgiriya has also played host to a memorable [[1996 Cricket World Cup]] match between Sri Lanka and [[Kenya national cricket team|Kenya]]. In this encounter, Sri Lanka amassed a then world record score of 398 runs, [[List of 400-plus innings scores in One Day International cricket matches|the highest ODI total]] at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/from-334-to-481-the-rise-of-the-highest-odi-total-1052783 |title=From 334 to 481: the rise of the highest ODI total |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |date=1 September 2016 |accessdate=19 August 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223103738/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/from-334-to-481-the-rise-of-the-highest-odi-total-1052783 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SLvK-WC">{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=SL vs KENYA Cricket Scorecard, 28th Match at Kandy, 6 March 1996 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/sri-lanka-vs-kenya-28th-match-65183/full-scorecard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222124141/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/wills-world-cup-1995-96-60981/sri-lanka-vs-kenya-28th-match-65183/full-scorecard |archive-date=2024-12-22 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

{{Limited overs international
 | date = 6 March 1996
 | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
 | score1 = 398/5 (50 overs)  	
 | score2 = 254/7 (50 overs)
 | team2 = {{cr-rt|KEN}}
 | runs1 = [[Aravinda de Silva]] 145 (115)
 | wickets1 = [[Tito Odumbe]] 2/34 (5 overs)
 | runs2 = [[Steve Tikolo]] 96 (95)
 | wickets2 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]] 2/40 (10 overs)
 | result = {{cr|SRI}} won by 144 runs
 | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65183.html Scorecard]
 | venue =  Asgiriya Stadium, Asgiriya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
 | umpires = [[Steve Dunne (cricket umpire)|Steve Dunne]] and [[V. K. Ramaswamy (umpire)|V. K. Ramaswamy]]
 | motm = [[Aravinda de Silva]] (Sri)
 | rain = Kenya won the toss and elected to ball first.
}}

==Current infrastructure and usage==
{{Multiple image
| perrow = 1
| header = 
| image1 = Asgiriya Stadium Score Board.jpg
| image2 = Asgiriya Stadium (Ground).jpg
| footer = {{bulleted list
 | Top: Asgiriya Stadium old score board. 
 | Bottom: The Hunnasgiriya-end of Asgiriya Stadium. 
}}
| total_width       = 300
| align             = Right
}}

Asgiriya Stadium has hosted a total of 21 Test matches, with Sri Lanka securing seven victories. However, due to the construction of the [[Pallekele International Cricket Stadium]], approximately 15 kilometers away, [[Sri Lanka Cricket]] gradually shifted the focus of international cricket to the newer venue. This transition began with the [[West Indian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2010–11|West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in 2010–11]], where the final Test match of the series was hosted at Pallekele.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/srilankacricket/83011128/sangakkara-regrets-asgiriya-losing-test-status |title=Sangakkara regrets Asgiriya losing Test status |publisher=Island Cricket |last=Clementine |first=Rex |date=28 November 2010 |accessdate=17 December 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217223919/http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/srilankacricket/83011128/sangakkara-regrets-asgiriya-losing-test-status |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SO-27A">{{Cite web |last=Marikar |first=Hafiz |date=2019-04-27 |title=Cricket born, died and buried in Kandy |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/04/28/sports/cricket-born-died-and-buried-kandy?page=31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216051829/https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/04/28/sports/cricket-born-died-and-buried-kandy?page=31 |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Sunday Observer |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2014, plans were unveiled to renovate and upgrade Asgiriya Stadium, including the installation of a new electronic scoreboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.ph/20150501100928/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/asgiriya-stadium-gets-face-lift |title=Asgiriya Stadium gets face-lift |work=Daily News |last=Marikar |first=Hafiz |date=27 December 2014 |accessdate=19 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819070605/https://archive.ph/20150501100928/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/asgiriya-stadium-gets-face-lift |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2020, Sri Lanka Cricket donated a sprinkler irrigation system to the stadium.<ref name="FT-11M">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-11 |title=Asgiriya Stadium gets sprinkler irrigation system |url=https://www.ft.lk/Sports/Asgiriya-Stadium-gets-sprinkler-irrigation-system/23-697245 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216050330/https://www.ft.lk/Sports/Asgiriya-Stadium-gets-sprinkler-irrigation-system/23-697245 |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.ft.lk |language=English}}</ref>

==Unique setting and legacy==
Situated amidst the picturesque mountains of Kandy, the ancient hill capital of Sri Lanka, Asgiriya Stadium is widely regarded as one of the most scenic cricket grounds in the world by [[ESPNcricinfo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-venue-that-karma-forgot-610849 |title=The venue that karma forgot |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=25 February 2013 |accessdate=19 August 2024 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130032326/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-venue-that-karma-forgot-610849 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A distinctive feature of Asgiriya is its ownership and maintenance by Trinity College, Kandy, an elite private boys' school. This makes it the only Test-class cricket stadium globally managed by a secondary educational institution. The ground has served as a breeding ground for numerous Sri Lankan cricketers who went on to represent the country at the highest level. Notable alumni include [[Ranjan Madugalle]], [[Ravi Ratnayeke]], [[Nilantha Ratnayake]], [[Kumar Sangakkara]], [[Kaushalya Weeraratne]], and [[Niroshan Dickwella]].<ref name="ESPN-14D">{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Alan |date=2014-12-14 |title=The ground which gave cricket Kumar Sangakkara |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-ground-which-gave-cricket-kumar-sangakkara-810177 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241119125328/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-ground-which-gave-cricket-kumar-sangakkara-810177 |archive-date=2024-11-19 |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

==Statistics and records==
{{updated|19 August 2024}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center"  
! colspan="7"|International matches<ref name="ESPNC-AS">{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=ESPNcricinfo: Asgiriya Stadium |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/asgiriya-stadium-kandy-59329 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206220935/https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/asgiriya-stadium-kandy-59329 |archive-date=2025-02-06 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.espncricinfo.com}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan=2 |Format
! rowspan=2 |Played
! colspan=2 |Won by
! rowspan=2 |Drawn/<br />No result/<br />Tied
! rowspan=2 |First match
! rowspan=2 |Last match
|-
! Sri Lanka
! Visitors
|-
| Test matches
| 21
| 7
| 9
| 5
| 22–26 April 1983
| 1–5 December 2007
|-
| One-Day Internationals
| 6
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 2 March 1986
| 16 December 2001
|-
| Women's One-Day Internationals
| 4
| 2
| 2
| –
| 29 November 1997
| 25 April 2004
|}

==Key milestones==
* '''1892''': Cricket is introduced at Trinity College.
* '''1909''': Work on Trinity's Asgiriya ground commence.
* '''1915''': Governor Sir Robert Chalmers, declares open the new Asgiriya playing field with its pavilion and gymnasium.
* '''1915''': The first inter-school cricket match to be played at Asgiriya takes place, between Trinity College, Kandy, and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. Trinity beat S. Thomas' by an innings and 18 runs. Sir Robert Chalmers graces the occasion.
* '''1969''': [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] faced off against [[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central Province]] in a 50-over cricket match.
* '''1982''': Asgiriya gains Test cricket venue status.
* '''1983''': First Test match takes place, between [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] and [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]].
* '''1986''': First ODI takes place, between [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] and [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]].
* '''1996''': Hosts a [[1996 Cricket World Cup]] fixture between Sri Lanka and [[Kenya national cricket team|Kenya]] with Sri Lanka making a record 398, the highest score at the time.
* '''2001''': Sri Lanka cricketer [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] scored his only career half-century and his highest Test score of 67 against [[India national cricket team|India]] at Kandy in 2001, which included three sixes and five fours.

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==External links==
* [https://trinitycollege.lk/ Trinity College website]
* [https://history.trinitycollege.lk/home Trinity Digital History]
* [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59329.html ESPNcricinfo: Asgiriya Stadium]

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Woods |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1899807209&newbks=0&redir_esc=y |title=Test Cricket Grounds : The Complete Guide to the World's Test Cricket Grounds |publisher=SportsBooks Limited |year=2004 |isbn=978-1899807208 |language=en}}

{{Trinity College Kandy}}
{{Kandy landmarks}}
{{Cricket in Sri Lanka}}
{{Subject bar
|portal1        = Sri Lanka
|portal2        = Schools
|portal3        = Cricket
|commons        = Yes
|commons-search = Category:Asgiriya Stadium
|d              = Yes
|d-search       = Q4804317
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Trinity College, Kandy]]
[[Category:1915 establishments in Ceylon]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kandy]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Central Province, Sri Lanka]]