South Africa will be eager for the Proteas to put a truly horrendous year on the field and in the boardroom behind them when they face Sri Lanka.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Sri Lanka won on their last visit to South Africa with the Proteas’ batting woes and a lack of killer instinct with the ball being their undoing.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka | 26 December – 30 December | SuperSport Park, Centurion
To Win Match
South Africa 7/20
Draw 5/1
Sri Lanka 47/10
South Africa
The makeup of the final Proteas XI is still up in the air even as all their players come through COVID-19 tests with the choice of openers the most intriguing.
Aiden Markram has torn it up domestically ahead of his recall to the Proteas set-up and looks likely to partner Dean Elgar at the top while uncapped Hollywoodbets Dolphins star Sarel Erwee is waiting in the wings.
Faf du Plessis will anchor an inexperienced middle-order which could also feature Rassie van der Dussen and Kyle Verreynne depending on how many bowling options skipper Quinton de Kock wants.
Temba Bavuma and De Kock will likely stay down the order where they seem to have the greatest impact for the Proteas, albeit as the men putting out fires.
The pace attack will be led by Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi with Kagiso Rabada not passed fit. Dwaine Pretorius and Wiaan Mulder compete for the all-rounder’s slot although injury could keep the former in the dressing room.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have an air of the unknown about them despite bringing every player who featured in their 2019 Test series win in South Africa on this trip.
Lasith Embuldeniya is set for a head-to-head duel with the Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, both could be handy on the SuperSport Park surface.
Sri Lanka have shown improved aptitude against pace led by skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis who starred in their historic series win last year.
Suranga Lakmal is set to lead a pace attack that is Sri Lanka most well-stocked in recent memory with plenty of experience of South African conditions.
Sri Lanka currently enjoys a four-match Test series winning streak over the Proteas with their last defeat coming in January 2017 when they suffered the final loss of a one-sided series.
Verdict: South Africa 7/20
The host team should still have the firepower to see off Sri Lanka.
Written by James Richardson.
