July 24, 2014
After an thumping victory over the inland nation, the proteas are looking invincible and the Lankans Lions looking battered and bruised. Cricket is a funny game indeed.
Not too long ago the Lankans won an away series against England which they cherished. But the proteas outplayed them in all departments of the game by displaying an ruthless intent.
It is to be seen whether the Lankans bounce back or the Africans will be more aggressive in their assault to reclaim there number one ranking which they had lost to Australia. Hashim Amla is set rewrite the history books if he wins this one.
The second test starts Today at SSC stadium Colombo.
Stadium Background
The last three Tests there have been draws. However with Sri Lanka obliging a win there to level the arrangement, maybe the groundstaff have delivered a surface more much the same as what five star groups normally experience at SSC. There could be a little help for the seamers at an early stage at the venue, however Sri Lanka will trust for a lot of turn also, which once in a while does happen.
Whatever the surface is similar to, Sri Lanka know South Africa have as of now cut them practical, after their incredible five months in the middle of January and July. The hosts agreeably lost an ODI arrangement they were required to win. At that point when they went to Galle, searching for triumph, they returned with a huge thrashing. That misfortune has set a magnifying lens solidly on Sri Lanka's fizzling center request, which will see no less than one change on Thursday.
South Africa have, interestingly, seemed settled and calm in Sri Lanka, both on and off the field. The stores have been for light runs around Galle. Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers have had their hair cut at a roadside stylist. The perspectives around the Kandy slopes even incited a strangely delicate gratefulness for nature, from Dale Steyn.
Lamentably for Sri Lanka, none of this has kept the guests from being merciless at the cricket. Steyn and Morkel represented 16 wickets in Galle, hitting with crude pace and skip to the extent that through opposite swing. South Africa's batsmen have likewise opposed turn much superior to they did in an ODI arrangement a year ago - having been especially viable against Rangana Herath in the first Test.
An arrangement triumph of any portrayal will see South Africa recover their top positioning. Sri Lanka will need to play considerably superior to at Galle to keep that result.
South Africa (probable): 1 Alviro Peterson, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt.), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 JP Duminy, 8 Vernon Philander/ Wayne Parnell, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir
Written by 'Cric Analyst'(Pseudo Name)
With inputs from ESPNCricinfo
This article is written entirely on the observations and news reports.
After an thumping victory over the inland nation, the proteas are looking invincible and the Lankans Lions looking battered and bruised. Cricket is a funny game indeed.
Not too long ago the Lankans won an away series against England which they cherished. But the proteas outplayed them in all departments of the game by displaying an ruthless intent.
It is to be seen whether the Lankans bounce back or the Africans will be more aggressive in their assault to reclaim there number one ranking which they had lost to Australia. Hashim Amla is set rewrite the history books if he wins this one.
The second test starts Today at SSC stadium Colombo.
Stadium Background
The last three Tests there have been draws. However with Sri Lanka obliging a win there to level the arrangement, maybe the groundstaff have delivered a surface more much the same as what five star groups normally experience at SSC. There could be a little help for the seamers at an early stage at the venue, however Sri Lanka will trust for a lot of turn also, which once in a while does happen.
Whatever the surface is similar to, Sri Lanka know South Africa have as of now cut them practical, after their incredible five months in the middle of January and July. The hosts agreeably lost an ODI arrangement they were required to win. At that point when they went to Galle, searching for triumph, they returned with a huge thrashing. That misfortune has set a magnifying lens solidly on Sri Lanka's fizzling center request, which will see no less than one change on Thursday.
South Africa have, interestingly, seemed settled and calm in Sri Lanka, both on and off the field. The stores have been for light runs around Galle. Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers have had their hair cut at a roadside stylist. The perspectives around the Kandy slopes even incited a strangely delicate gratefulness for nature, from Dale Steyn.
Lamentably for Sri Lanka, none of this has kept the guests from being merciless at the cricket. Steyn and Morkel represented 16 wickets in Galle, hitting with crude pace and skip to the extent that through opposite swing. South Africa's batsmen have likewise opposed turn much superior to they did in an ODI arrangement a year ago - having been especially viable against Rangana Herath in the first Test.
An arrangement triumph of any portrayal will see South Africa recover their top positioning. Sri Lanka will need to play considerably superior to at Galle to keep that result.
Teams news
In the most left-field selection move Sri Lanka has made in some time, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella has been flown in
from England. Angelo Mathews said Chandimal was still in the mix,
despite what SLC had said on Tuesday, but it appears Dickwella is likely
to play. Sri Lanka may also consider playing Kithuruwan Vithanage in
place of Lahiru Thirimanne. Shaminda Eranga has also been ruled out
through injury, so Sri Lanka will make at least two changes to the XI.
Dhammika Prasad, who also plays for SSC in first-class cricket, is the
frontrunner to replace Eranga.
Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kumar
Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Lahiru Thirimanne, 6 Angelo Mathews
(capt), 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Dhammika Prasad,
10 Rangana Herath, 11 Suranga Lakmal
The only addition to the South Africa camp has been Gary Kirsten's
arrival, as part of his role as a team consultant. South Africa may not
want to make significant changes to their winning combination, but
Vernon Philander's place seems under some threat, after he went
wicketless in Galle.
South Africa (probable): 1 Alviro Peterson, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt.), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 JP Duminy, 8 Vernon Philander/ Wayne Parnell, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir
Written by 'Cric Analyst'(Pseudo Name)
With inputs from ESPNCricinfo
This article is written entirely on the observations and news reports.
