Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Ah, the post AB de Villiers era for South Africa. I was dreading you. So too many cricket fans around the world, except probably Sri Lankans, who are South Africa’s first assignment after the great man’s retirement.
It’s always exciting to see a non-Asian team touring an Asian nation for a Test series, as it makes for a compelling contest. Can the tourists effectively deal with the foreign conditions to pick up a Test victory? It’s incredibly difficult, as most non-Asian teams have found out over the last 5-10 years, but South Africa have a great opportunity to repeat their 2014 success in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka would be buoyed by their series-leveling effort in the West Indies recently. It was backs-against-the-wall stuff. In fact, their form since the 9-0 annihilation against India last year has been pretty good, winning 2-0 v Pakistan in the UAE, drawing two Tests in India, beating Bangladesh away, and drawing with West Indies with plenty of injury and suspension distractions. Can they push South Africa to the limit, too?
Life after AB de Villiers is here for South Africa. Still, they have the quality to do well here, with their batting line up possessing the patience to do well in these conditions, and the bowling line up one of the best in the world. With Dale Steyn returning the ground where he took 9/99 four years ago, to likely partner Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander, South Africa have a great mix of spin and reverse swing to trouble Sri Lanka. It will be interesting to see how they go.
But please, a message to both sides. NO BALL TAMPERING. Cheers.
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| Dinesh Chandimal has been excellent, but he is doubtful |
Key to a Sri Lanka win
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Key to a South Africa win
Possible teams
Sri Lanka possible XI: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne, 2. Danushka Gunathilaka, 3. Dhananjaya de Silva, 4. Kusal Mendis, 5. Angelo Mathews, 6. Kusal Perera, 7. Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8. Rangana Herath, 9. Dulruwan Perera, 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Lahiru Kumara
South Africa coach Ottis Gibson has spoken of his desire to have three pacers. This means Philander will probably bat at seven, with Lungi Ngidi to sit out with Dale Steyn to play. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi could be the spin duo, but Shamsi needs to overcome the curse of the South Africa Test wristspinner.
South Africa possible XI: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Hashim Amla, 4. Faf du Plessis (c), 5. Temba Bavuma, 6. Quinton de Kock (wk), 7. Vernon Philander, 8. Keshav Maharaj, 9. Dale Steyn, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi
Stats and Facts:
- South Africa’s last tour of Sri Lanka was in 2014. It was also a two-Test series, which the Proteas won 1-0.
- Dale Steyn took 9/99 in his last visit to Galle, in 2014.
- Sri Lanka have won four, drawn four and lost just two of their last ten Tests.
- Of the probable South Africa XI, three (Markram, Maharaj, Shamsi) have never played a Test in Asia.
- Since South Africa’s readmission to Test cricket in 1992, they have taken the least number of wickets by spin out of any nation (Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland excluded).
Prediction:
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