Will the Lankan Lions roar again or will the South Africans avenge last year’s defeat
With no mathematical chance of making it to the ICC test championship final, both teams will play for pride and their fans.

Early December saw the ODI series between South Africa and England get cancelled, due to an unfortunate incident of Covid outbreak in both camps. But, fortunately the test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka has been green lighted. This test series has two tests, the first of which starts on the 26th of December this year at Supersport Park, Centurion, and the next in the new year starting on 3rd January at the Wanderers Stadium.

South Africa had assembled a squad of 19 for the series against Sri Lanka. But again, just days before the first test, two of South Africa’s players have tested Covid positive. Those two players Beuran Hendricks and Keegan Petersen have been withdrawn from the squad and now South Africa has 17 members to choose from for the first test.

The two captains

The South African squad

Quinton de Kock ©, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Sarel Erwee, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Migael Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Gelnton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Raynard van Tonder, Kyle Verreynne

South African cricket has seen a lot of unrest in the last few years, somehow the men running the game there were not believed to have been working for the betterment of the sport, or supporting the current players.

Coupled with that the race quota in sports teams; only 5 white players can be part of a team, has meant a lot of white players have left the country for a better future. From Kevin Petersen to Marnus Labuschagne to even Glenn Phillips the list is ever expanding. So from bad management to player exodus, worries were aplenty for South African cricket. But now that Graeme Smith is the director of Cricket South Africa and Mark Boucher the coach, one would hope for some semblance of normalcy returning to South African cricket.

Without Kagiso Rabada, and the recently retired trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Veron Philander, the bowling looks a little thin. Even pacers like Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbot have bid adieu to international cricket. In this scenario the best South Africa can do is go with a three pronged seam attack and one spinner in Keshav Maharaj. The three seamers will be Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and the man who might make his debut Glenton Stuurman. They will be ably supported by tall fast bowling all rounder Dwaine Pretorius.

Anrich Nortje had a brilliant IpL. His blistering pace coupled with great lengths could make a real difference for South Africa

The worry for South Africa though, even in the last home series against Sri Lanka which South Africa lost 2–0, was their batting. Aiden Markram, the opening batsman, who had a fantastic start to International cricket has been found struggling off late. Faf du plessis too has been short of runs in test cricket. Bavuma has looked good for short stays but has failed to get big scores. If this South African team has to do well against Sri Lanka, their batting must come to the party. Much will be expected of the bat from captain Quinton de kock and middle order batsman Rassie van der Dussen.

The Srilankan squad

Dimuth Karunaratne ©, Kusal Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Born and bred on slow, low pitches, the sub continental teams have majorly suffered when touring the SENA countries.

S — South Africa

E — England

N — New Zealand

A — Australia

But last year, Sri Lanka accomplished something that even their mighty neighbours India can only dream of. They beat South Africa 2–0 in South Africa, no mean feat.

Sri Lanka is well led by Dimuth Karunaratne, a mild mannered man he comes across as a guy you can go up and ask questions to. To have leaders like him is a blessing for any team, especially an inexperienced team like Sri Lanka. Young Oshada Fernando is a real talent with the bat, and plays vertical shots well, a much needed quality while touring outside the subcontinent. And then there is the diminutive giant, Kusal Parea, a small man who has pulled off things which only giants can.

The hero from last time

Parera’s 153* at Kingsmead to take Sri Lanka home was a knock for the ages. Such brilliant counter attacking cricket, such superb hitting, such a calm head under pressure. If he had been English or Indian, his name would have travelled to every single cricket watching household in the world, but sadly for him he is Sri Lankan, hence even a fantastic, match winning knock like that only reached a few thousand.

The bowling is also well led by a certain Suranga Lakmal, what the man lacks in pace, he makes up in swing and control. Then they have a genuine fast bowler in Lahiru Kumara, and a decent left armer in Vishwa Fernando. The fast bowlers will be supported well by the spinners too. Rajitha the chinaman has a lot of talent and can play a role against the not so proficient spin players, the South Africans.

Verdict

Playing at home South Africa will always start favourites, but if they don’t bat well then they could be in trouble very quickly.

Promises to be a close one, will be entertaining.
['Auri Ghosh']
['Sri Lanka', 'Predictions', 'Sports', 'Cricket', 'South Africa']