A testing time

Sri Lanka is still basking in the glory of their outstanding performance in England, with pleasant memories of the form and confidence of a majority of the players. You couldn’t ask for a better situation in which to start a series.

When a team spends its final week of training knowing they have had success in recent times, particularly in foreign conditions, each member feels ten feet tall. On this occasion the opposition had had huge success during their last home series. To be underdogs and then to win in overwhelming fashion is a huge morale booster.

Two test matches opens the contest against South Africans, followed by the tri-nation ODI’s which also involves the Indians. The South Africans come to the island having had back to back battles against the powerful Aussies. It would have battle hardened them, no doubt.

Their main concern will be the injuries that have weakened their squad. Of course that is almost always the case with international cricket teams. There is only one series in progress right now, England playing Pakistan, with both teams at around seventy percent strength. A number of players on both sides are sidelined due to injuries. But life has to go on, the cricketing battles continue to rage on.

Captain Graeme Smith and best batsman cum allrounder Jaques Kallis are both recuperating back home. There absence will cause a severe dent in the batting department. The silver lining that will be expected is for other players to step into their shoes and make the most of this opportunity.

The batting will revolve around the captain Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, de Villiers, Dippenar, Rudolph and Herschelle Gibbs. Gibbs becomes the senior member of the batting group on this tour. He is now well equipped to handle that responsibility. His style and approach makes him natural for the one day affairs. But here is an opportunity for him to buckle down and prove his mastery in the long game. Boeta Dippenar and the captain will be expected to perform to their best ability together with Gibbs for the Proteas. That will be essential to post big totals. The bowling of the visitors is at full strength. Their support pacemen, the aggressive Andre Nel and the cunning Dale Steyn, progressed much through their encounter with the Aussies. Makaya Ntini is now at his peak. Nicky Boje is now a very experienced left arm spin bowling tourist. Add medium pace Andrew Hall to that line up and that looks a healthy bowling squad.

The Proteas are known for their fighting qualities. That bowling line consists of a bunch of fighters. They will be streets ahead of what England were able to throw at the Sri Lankans, particularly in the one dayers.

This means that Mahela Jayawardena and the rest of the local batsmen will have to take fresh guard. There is a huge amount of experience amongst the batsmen selected into the sixteen-man squad. Equally so with the bowling, led by Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.

The record in the encounters between the two nations indicate that South Africa have been the more dominant force. In South Africa they have been untouchable, winning six of the seven games. They have been equal to it when playing in Sri Lanka. In eight games each country has won two games, while four have been drawn.

Sri Lanka have a score to settle in this two match series. They will be tested to the hilt in their quest for more success.