Cricket grandstand collapses during first Sri Lanka-Australia Test in Galle

The roof on a makeshift grandstand at Galle International Stadium has collapsed due to heavy rain and wind before the scheduled start of play between Sri Lanka and Australia.

On a morning of chaos in Sri Lanka's south, rain began falling as strong gusts blew off the coastline about 90 minutes before the scheduled start of day two of the first Test on Thursday.

A heavy wind warning was issued for the Galle region, with the area expecting gusts in excess of 60 kilometres per hour later in the day.

Ground staff managed to keep the entire ground covered as they battled to put tyres over large tarpaulin covers to keep them on the grass.

But the bigger challenge was outside the boundary.

Metal sheets on the temporary eastern stand began blowing off about an hour prior to the scheduled start of play at 10am local time, before the entire roof buckled and collapsed.

No spectators were in the stand at the time.

The metal — designed to cover a small concreted seating area —had only been secured by rope in the days before the test, and the site lay in ruins before being secured.

A large glass panel at the front of a marquee, which hosted tour groups on day one, also fell and smashed.

Small pieces of corrugated iron fell from another roof, while staff on scaffolding worked through the wind to bring down the sightscreen.

The decision review system is expected to be unavailable for the rest of the day due to the damage sustained in the drama.

The Australian team went to their bus to return to their hotel at one stage before being called back to the change rooms by umpires.

But play resumed at 1:45pm local time, with 59 overs to be bowled before the new scheduled stumps time of 6pm.

Australia faces a crucial first hour after going to stumps at 3-98 in reply to Sri Lanka's 212.

Only bad weather can prevent a result in the match, with 13 wickets falling on day one. A three-day Test is predicted due to the pitch conditions.

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