Grandstand COLLAPSES and roof gets ripped off ahead of Australia vs Sri Lanka cricket Test day two

Monsoonal winds and rain have wreaked havoc ahead of day two of Australia’s test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, with a temporary grandstand collapsing, and its roof completely ripped off.

The collapse occurred just as the Australian team entered the ground, with the roof failing to withstand very strong wind gusts that buffeted the beautiful coastal city.

Fortunately no one was in the stand, which is next to the practice nets, at the time, and no injuries reported as of yet. 

Pictures show a temporary grandstand in Galle, Sri Lanka has completely collapsed

Photos show the Galle grandstand roof has collapsed after strong wind and rain

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The three-tired concrete structure was covered by a temporary shade structure that appeared to be very flimsy; especially for a stadium that is located right on the Indian Ocean.

Conditions were decidedly more pleasant on day one – and the temporary grandstand was packed on that occasion. 

Play is still delayed until the conditions subside and debris is cleared, with remarkable videos emerging on social media about the lengths local ground staff had gone to, to keep the entire oval dry.

Wild winds whip up one of the tarps in the outfield ahead of day two of the Test

Huge tyres can be seen holding down tarps across the entire field 

Correspondent Louis Cameron posted a photo of a huge glass frontage that had fallen over in front of a marquee 

It is incredibly lucky no one was inside at the time, as there is clearly potential for serious injury. 

Journalist Bharat Sundaresan, who was at the ground, took Twitter users on a ‘tour’ of the commentary area at the ground, which is perched high in the famous 16th century fort, which towers over the stadium.

It’s safe to say it doesn’t quite have the same lush as the famous Lords press box, though the commentary ‘box’ is reportedly being moved to a safer location according to posts on social media. 

One user described the scenes as ‘organised chaos’, while another joked that the weather had been described on forecasting websites as a ‘gentle breeze’. 

A Galle Stadium groundsman rolls out a huge tyre to help weigh down the massive tarps

Nathan Lyon claimed figures of 5-90 to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 212 just after tea on the opening day of the two-Test series, before the tourists went to stumps at 3-98 in Galle.