SRI Lanka 2016 Test Match cricket tour 1 Welcome Welcome from Merv Hughes Australian Sports Tours is proud to invite you on tour to Sri Having had to wait five years between Sri Lankan drinks, Lanka in July and August 2016. The Aussies take on hosts Sri WelcomeAustralian cricket fans now get a chance to visit one of the worlds Lanka to contest the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy in a three most scenic and friendly countries. Test Match Series, followed by 5 ODIs and 2 T20 Internationals. AST professional staff have once again used their immense local experience and knowledge to put together the perfect blend We have released a 17 day tour that takes in the first Test in of cricket, sightseeing and five star hospitality. An extremely Kandy and second Test to be held in Galle. In addition to this, affordable place to travel, there isn’t a local to be found that won’t we have also created a 10 day escorted tour covering the third have an opinion on the outcome of this extremely important Test in Columbo. series. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy will host Join me for Australia’s much anticipated return to Test cricket in its second ever Test Match between these two nations - the Sri Lanka and see Steve Smith lead a team hungry to maintain only other Test resulting in a draw back in 2011. The Galle their dominance of the original and still the best form of the International Stadium has featured 3 Tests with Australia game. winning 2 of those. Since our last Test in Galle in 2011, the See you in Colombo! ground has been somewhat of a Sri Lankan stronghold with Merv Hughes the locals winning 6 out of their last 9 Test Matches here. AST Tour Host Sri Lanka is home to beautiful tropical beaches, cooler temperate rain forests and vast plantations of the world’s finest tea. With a kaleidoscope of attractions, history, climate and geography contained within an island smaller than Tasmania, Sri Lanka is a tourist’s dream. Highlights include the beach side town of Hikkaduwa, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy and the highest density of leopards in the world in Yala National Park. All of these are enhanced by the combination of local hospitality, superb cuisine and a shared love for the game of cricket; a sure fire topic of conversation with any Sri Lankan. This is truly a unique opportunity to support our boys and experience the amazing island country that is Sri Lanka! The team at Australian Sports Tours astsports.com.au | 1800 026 668 1st & 2nd test TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ** Welcome • Guaranteed hospitality tickets including $$ lunch for the 1st and 2nd Tests 5,4905,490 • * twin/double share Four (4) and five (5) star accommodation Single $supplement1,900 throughout • Three (3) game drives in Yala National Park • Historic train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya • Services of Australian cricketing legend Merv Hughes • Services of experienced AST Tour Rep • Two (2) all inclusive functions with Merv Hughes and featuring international cricketers as guest speakers • Coach travel throughout with airport and match transfers as detailed in itinerary • One way train journey from Kandy to rd Nuwara Eliya 3 test • AST tour merchandise tour HIGHLIGHTS • Guaranteed hospitality tickets including Matches included lunch for the 3rd Test • Nine (9) nights accommodation staying in ST Pallekele 1 TEST Tue 26 - Sat 30 Jul: premium accommodation throughout * International Cricket Stadium, Kandy * • Breakfast daily ND Galle $$ 2 TEST Thu 4 – Mon 8 Aug: • Sightseeing tour of Colombo International Stadium, Galle 2,7952,795 • Entry into Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage * twin/double share Single $supplement • Entry into Sigiriya Rock Fortress 1,395 • Entry and tour of Polonnaruwa • Entry into Dambulla Rock Temple • Services of experienced AST Tour Rep • AST tour merchandise Matches included 3RD TEST: Sat 13 - Wed 17 Aug: Sinhalese Sport Club, Colombo astsports.com.au | 1800 026 668 3 Test One Test Two Pallekele International Galle International Stadium Galle International Stadium is a cricket stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, Cricket Stadium situated near the Galle fort and fringed on two sides by the Indian Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, also known as Muttiah Ocean. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium is one of the newest grounds in the world. cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka and the newest in the city of Kandy. Galle International Stadium has featured 3 Tests with Australia Pallekele International Cricket Stadium will host its 2nd ever Test winning 2 of those. Since our last Test in Galle in 2011, the ground Match between these two nations - the only other Test resulting in has been somewhat of a Sri Lankan stronghold with the locals a draw back in 2011 winning 6 out of their last 9 Test Matches here. Sri Lanka Address: Monday 26 - Saturday 30 July 2016 Test Date: Thursday 4 - Monday 8 Aug 2016 Address: Pallekele, Kandy Address: Colombo Rd, Galle Cricket Grounds Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 35,000 Established: 2009 Established: 1876 End Names: Hunnasgiriya End End Names: City End Rikillagaskada End Fort End astsports.com.au | 1800 026 668 Test three Sinhalese Sports Club Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo is the headquarters for Sri Lanka Cricket and will host the 3rd and final Test Match of the 2016 Australia and Sri Lanka Series. This Test Match venue has been a happy hunting ground for the Aussies with two wins and two draws coming from their four matches here. It has also seen some almighty efforts from their local heroes – with the ball Rangana Herath took 9-127 in an innings in 2014, Chaminda Vaas claimed Test Match figures of 14-191 in 2001 and Muralitharan set a world record of 8-19 in an 2001 ODI. With the bat Jayawardene made an epic 374 against South Africa, Sangakkara has made three Test Match double centuries here and as a team Sri Lanka have made their highest Test innings score of 5-756 dec. Test Date: Saturday 13 - Wednesday 17 August 2016 Address: Maitland Pl, Colombo Capacity: 10,000 Established: 1952 End Names: Tennis Courts End South End 5 Yala National Park Yala National Park is situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean. Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and then a national park in 1938. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule. Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. Yala Facts Area: 980km2 Climate: dry most of the year Average temp: 26.4 °C Best time to visit: June to September Sri Lanka boasts the big four of wildlife Location: 260km south-east of Colombo including sloth bears, elephants, leopards and wild buffalo astsports.com.au | 1800 026 668 Jetwing Yala Jetwing Yala is located 4km from Yala National Park one of the best wildlife destinations in Asia. Jetwing Yala is a combination of amazing luxury with awe-inspiring wildlife. Set on 38 acres adjoining the Indian Ocean, Jetwing off ers extensive views of these vibrant surroundings, Featuring private balconies and canopy beds, these cool, earthy rooms are in easy reach of the swimming pool and ocean, and come equipped with free wi-fi and flat-screens TVs. Jetwing Yala is a hotel which seamlessly blends in with its surroundings. It will undoubtedly delight wildlife enthusiasts, safari holidaymakers and those that just want to soak up the sun, sand and sounds of the wildlife. astsports.com.au | 1800 026 668 7 Day 1 Sun 24 Jul: Colombo Depart Australia from your local capital city for your Tonight you will be our guest at our all inclusive international flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Due to the welcome dinner which will be hosted by Merv Hughes late night scheduling of flights from Australia into and feature a guest speaker. Colombo, upon arrival you will be met at the airport Overnight: Ozo Kandy or similar and transferred to a nearby hotel where you can relax and recover from the long flight in comfortable Days 3-7 Tue 26 - Sat 30 Jul: 1st Test, surroundings ready to start our touring fresh in the morning. Australia v Sri Lanka - International Accommodation: Cinnamon Grand Colombo or similar Cricket Stadium, Pallekele st nd Following breakfast and a pre match preview with Merv 1 & 2 Test Day 2 Mon 25 Jul: Kandy each morning, we make our way to Sri Lanka’s newest stadium, the International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Following breakfast we depart Colombo for the venue st of the highly anticipated 1st Test Match – Kandy. Once for the 1 of this three match series. 2016 Sri Lanka checked in to our Kandy hotel, the afternoon is free to In 2011 at this venue, the visitors got off to a great start head out and explore the sacred Buddhist city known by dismissing Sri Lanka for 174 runs – wickets were for its culture, beauty and cool, relaxed climate and shared amongst the bowlers with Ryan Harris claiming // 24 July - 9 August 2016 way of life. 3, Trent Copeland, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon all // 17 Days/16 Nights Kandy is the former capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom taking 2 apiece while Mike Hussey chimed in for 1. In that eventually fell to the British after holding out from reply the Aussies led by Test debutant Shaun Marsh (141) and Mike Hussey (142) forged a big lead of 237 the Portuguese and Dutch for over 300 years, and its nd most famous attraction is the Temple of the Sacred heading into the 2 innings, but it was all for nothing Tooth Relic.