THE Celtic Manor has helped inspire Glamorgan as the Swalec Stadium prepares to host its second Test.

England will lock horns with Sri Lanka over the next five days and the pressure is on as Glam bid to earn another visit from the Australians in 2013 or 2015.

The warmth of the Welsh welcome won over the doubters when the opening Ashes Test was held in Cardiff in 2009.

Further lessons were learned at last year’s Ryder Cup in Newport and there is a determination to prove they are not a one-trick pony.

"I think that the beauty of Wales is that we are all good at putting on events and sharing information in terms of organisation," said Glam chief executive Alan Hamer.

"The Celtic Manor learned from the Ashes for the Ryder Cup in terms of their park and ride and the stewarding, while we were very impressed with their supporters’ village.

"We will be looking to replicate that, albeit on a slightly smaller scale, on the green area behind the pavilion this week. I believe that the relationship we have with the Celtic Manor and the Millennium Stadium is a real benefit. The Ashes was such a success and we need to make sure it’s the same again. It’s nice to have these challenges and to test ourselves and be in the shop window."

Glamorgan will find out in September what Test match package they have been awarded by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

And if they earn that chance to welcome the Aussies once again then it is sure to be an easier sell that the Sri Lankans in May.

"It has been a completely different challenge to the Ashes, which was huge in profile with a huge scramble for tickets," said Hamer.

"Sri Lanka are a top team but slip under the radar a touch compared to Australia when it comes to the members of public that aren’t huge followers of Test cricket.

"It’s also the first game of the summer for England and we had other factors affecting ticket sales, like Cardiff City potentially being in the finals of the playoffs.

"It has been a challenge but we have seen a significant increase in interest over the past few weeks.

"But the same level of planning has gone into the game with Sri Lanka as went in for the game with Australia.

"People will be treated exactly the same and the message to everyone involved at the club is to just do what they did two years ago."

It’s a busy time for Glamorgan, with the financially vital Twenty20 campaign also on the horizon, and the planning has been meticulous.

But their monitoring of the Ryder Cup – which entered a fourth day for the first time in the history of the contest – showed that venues are at the mercy of the weather regardless of the preparation.

"We were lucky with the Ashes Test that it stayed dry on the first day so that we could make a good impression," said Hamer.

"And in the end a bit of bad weather on the Saturday set things up for the dramatic conclusion on the Sunday.

"You have to try to be prepared for everything but hopefully we will be lucky and avoid rain."