Five minutes, 28 covers, 300 tyres: How Galle's 130-member groundstaff beat the rain
A 130-member groundstaff team at the Galle International Cricket Stadium efficiently manages rain delays during international cricket matches. The team uses a coordinated system to cover the pitch and ground in under five minutes.
Why it matters
Highlights the logistical challenges and human labor required to maintain international sporting events in regions prone to unpredictable weather.
TimesofIndia.com in Galle: The match was over. The formalities were completed, and both teams had already left the stadium. The broadcast crew was busy packing up for the next game, but the work was only getting started for Manjula and the 130 groundstaff at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. It rained immediately after the two teams completed their handshakes, but unlike the preceding week, there was no urgency to cover the square or the ground. Overseeing operations, Manjula stood on top of the advertising board and kept a close eye as the covers were neatly folded and parked after a week of intense activity.Since India and Sri Lanka arrived in the coastal city for the series opener, rain has appeared frequently enough to keep Manjula and his team on their toes. Not all of them are employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
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