South Africa, Sri Lanka look to rise in the WTC table
Overview
South Africa v Sri Lanka, first Test
SuperSport Park, Centurion
Saturday, 26 December – Wednesday, 30 December, 10.00am local time, 8.00am GMT
The last time the Proteas played Test cricket, they had Faf du Plessis leading and Vernon Philander spearheading the bowling attack. This time, there's no Philander – the veteran pacer calling time on a short, yet brilliant career – and du Plessis is no longer leading the side.
Your #Proteas are looking VERY sharp at training. 💯#SAvSL #BetwayTest #SeeUsOnThePitch pic.twitter.com/zv3l66yWSH
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 22, 2020
To add to that, Kagiso Rabada is out with a groin injury and Lungi Ngidi is racing against time to be fit for the first Test. This leaves South Africa with a rather depleted bowling attack with Glenton Stuurman or Miguel Pretorius set to make a debut.
Pretorius has 20 wickets in five first-class games in the domestic four-day competition and is the third highest wicket-taker. He was, however, a late addition to the team with Stuurman possibly ahead in the pecking order.
Sri Lanka Team engaged in practices at the Centurian Park ahead of its 1st Test vs South Africa.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) December 21, 2020
How excited are you for the #SAvSL series? pic.twitter.com/EV3APbSoak
On the batting front, they have in-form guys with Aiden Markram, the opener, averaging 77.71 with three centuries in the domestic competition. He is the second highest run-scorer in the competition this year.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are without Angelo Mathews on this tour. The middle-order batting strength takes a major hit with his absence. Oshada Fernando is also unavailable for the first Test with a hamstring injury.
Suranga Lakmal also has a hamstring niggle and might have to sit the first one out. Dasun Shanaka and Kasun Rajitha are frontrunners to replace him if ruled out.
South Africa have won all of their Test encounters against Sri Lanka in Centurion 🏏
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2020
Can they maintain their unbeaten record in the Boxing Day match?#SAvSL | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/kxriAGAb3b
Remember the last time:
It was a historic series win for Sri Lanka the last time they came down to South Africa. They became the first Asian side to win a Test series in the country and it came on the back of superlative individual performances with bat and ball. The Proteas are formidable at home, but sine 2018, they have lost 12 Tests while winning just nine in their backyard.
Rassie van der Dussen – 136 runs @ 136
— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2020
Faf du Plessis – 121 runs @ 60.5
The 🇿🇦 pair were on 🔥 in the recent T20I series with England.
Can the Proteas batting duo do the business in the ICC World Test Championship series v Sri Lanka, starting on Boxing Day? #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/P45FYDNE6S
What they said:
Quinton de Kock (South Africa captain):"The guys are looking for a long-term leadership role. I won't be doing that. There does seem a lot on my plate but I am quite happy to do it for now."
Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka captain):"Last time we came to South Africa we didn't have many options – Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera weren't here. This time we do have that strength, and we will need it."