Sri Lanka V South Africa: 2nd Test - Match Preview
South Africa is all set to take on Sri Lanka in the second Test of the three-match series at Kingsmead, Durban, today December 26th, 2011.
The Proteas easily defeated the tourists in the first Test of the series crushing them by an innings and 81 runs. Rookie pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vernon-Philander-c2753 and experienced fast bowler Dale Steyn ripped through the batting line-up of the tourist, who could not handle
the pace and swing of the two bowlers.
Greame http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 will require the same focus from his team, and would be hoping that another terrific performance will make his team take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
The hosts were simply outstanding at Centurion with both the bat and ball. The young South Africa pacer Vernon Philander, who had made a stunning debut against Australia last month, was the pick of the bowlers and ended the match with incredible figures
of 10 for 102. His efforts were well complimented by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409, who also claimed six wickets and conceded just 54 runs in 20.4 overs.
Whilst the hosts would go into the Durban Test as overwhelming favourites, the Lankans will be eager to stop the hosts and will try to win the match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033. Out of the nine games they played against the Men
in Green across all three formats, Lankans only managed to win a solitary One Day International.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 reckons recurrent mistakes are the main reason behind the team’s recent downfall.
"It's been the same mistakes repeated quite a few times," Kumar Sangakkara said. "Those are things we can't excuse. When you have a lot of excuses around you it really doesn't work."
South Africa does not have an encouraging record at the Kingsmead stadium, and have lost all of their last three Tests at the stadium. They lost back to back Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. After analysing the form of Sri Lanka, this is the best
chance for the Proteas to break the winless run.
The series opener at Centurion ended in three days as the Lankans could not stand up to the pace of Philander and Steyn but the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, hopes that the Durban wicket will be a typical Test wicket, so the match runs into
day five and the fans can enjoy all five days of the match.
"The wicket looks like it should go more than three days, unless one team puts up their hand and plays unbelievable cricket,” said de Villiers while talking to the media reporters ahead of the second Test. “It will be a good Test wicket with something for
both bat and ball and something to play for over five days for a change," he added further.
Lankans are likely to make two changes in their playing XI from Centurion, which will see Chandimal replace http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jayan-Kaushal-Silva-c66641 and Thisara Perera might make way for Dhammika Prasad.
Proteas on the other hand will http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Roger-Kirshaw-Pierson-c42135 to the same squad, given that Philander recovers in time from the injury he sustained last week. If Philander fails to prove his fitness ahead of the Test match, Marchant de Lange could make his debut.
South Africa: (probable) 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir
Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 2 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CRD-Fernando-c1292,
11 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/UWMBCA-Welegedara-c2735
Tags: