Maids Preview – South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka in USA 2020, 1st Test

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At face value, does Sri Lanka really have a chance? Let’s look at the facts against them:

  • They have not played international cricket since March.
  • Most team members have spent three weeks playing T20 cricket, and are now expected to switch to Test mode.
  • They had no warm-up game due to Covid-19 problems.
  • They miss Angelo Mathews – the most experienced member of their batting order.
  • Sri Lankan bats have always struggled at Centurion.

And yet, when they won 2-0 in South Africa last year, Sri Lanka had an even steeper resistance, their fast bowling stock having been reduced by injuries, while a captain was just in his sack, and a coach was scared for his job (which he lost, several months later). This time, not only do they feel they have a stronger seal attack, but they have a more experienced batting team, and a coach who is familiar with South African situations, in Mickey Arthur.

South Africa, however, are far more fearful in the Highveld – where both trials will be played – than they are on the shores, especially against South Asian opponents. They have players in shape too. Anrich Nortje was very fast in the T20s against England, as well as the IPL. This was in the T20s, but the man is clearly in good rhythm, and the prospect of him hitting at high speeds at Centurion will worry some Sri Lankan fighters. The likes of Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Keshav Maharaj come off brilliant performances in the four – day tournament (Markram has 75, 113, 149, 121 in his last four innings), which leading to another point – they have been playing cricket in long form, where Sri Lanka have not had competitive multiplayer games for at least five months.

South Africa are clearly starting out as favorites, but as Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has said, much depends on how good each bat team is after the long test hiatus aca. All of the last four games between these teams have seen very low numbers. If that is the case again, Sri Lanka feels they have a chance.

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