Sri Lanka vs South Africa pre-series build up

[Vrock]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/5184446.stm

Mahela Jayawardene will retain the Sri Lankan captaincy as Mavan Atapattu is taken longer to recover than hoped.

I think he will do a good job, he appeared very level headed against England and didn't make any big mistakes.

[batoutofhell]

I guess it will be an interesting contest
it is good for south africa to go as a under dogs
all the pressure will be on mahela in front of his home crowd to continue his success from england
srilanka is always an tougher opponent in their backyard,and if i remember correctly, they recently last to pakistan in both test and one dayers in srilanka so this must make them work more harder to get convincing vitories against the depleted south african side
for south africa missing kallis and smith is a big blow,hope they will come up good against some really tough bowlers (vaas,murali and malinga are the key for srilanka)

[Wanderer]

SA team (most likely one to play the first test starting Thursday), produced some very good performances against a Sri Lankan 'A' side this weekend.

1. Andre Nel took 4-49 on a pretty docile pitch.
2. Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph both scored big centuries (150 and 157 respectively)
3. AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince both on 50*
4. Ntini and Steyn looking good as well.

Only not-so-great news is Herschelle Gibbs failing. But, the Safricans know they're the underdogs, and perhaps that's not such a bad thing.

Because just about everybody back home is almost expecting them to fail, that might just spur them on to greater things....

[batoutofhell]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Because just about everybody back home is almost expecting them to fail, that might just spur them on to greater things....

Exactly wanderer
thast what i am also expecting from southafrica
when all the focus is on Srilanka and their home conditions,southafrica can sneak through in a better way
already the warm up match show how danger nel could be(even in sub continent pitches)
i would like to see the similar performance form amla and rudolf(both are good players of spin i guess)
how did steyn and ntini bowled?(i did not see the score card)
the key to south africa victory(or even a draw) in srilanka will be clicking of their top order batsmen
just heard from espn
shaun pollock will be there for 2nd test,great news for SA

[adamberry]

No real surprises in Sri Lanka's squad:

Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedara, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Michael Vandort, Rangana Herath.

The only doubt is Rangana Herath, who is reportedly nursing an injury. Sajeewa Weerakoon is on standby as a possible like-for-like swap.

It's also looking as though Sanath Jayasuriya is going to open the batting for Sri Lanka after Michael Vandort failed to perform in the recent warm-up match.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by adamberry

It's also looking as though Sanath Jayasuriya is going to open the batting for Sri Lanka after Michael Vandort failed to perform in the recent warm-up match.

If I remember correctly the plan was to stick with Michael Vandort at the top of the order to give him a long run in the side which he didn't get the first time round. If Vandort was moved down the order there wouldn't be a big problem but if he was dropped just because of one failing, in a warm-up game(!), then the Sri Lankan selectors are very short sighted.

I wonder if South Africa will get their spinner(s) to bowl aggressively or not.

[Quagmire]

This should be a great series the two closest ranked teams who are both middle of the road, also with some greats of the game playing, Muralitharan, Jayasuria, Pollock and Kallis it will be an interesting series

[Wanderer]

Quagmire, Kallis is not playing this series, injured. And Polly will only be available from the second test.

[Ernest]

A good test for South Africa - and if South Africa thrash Sri Lanka it will give the England camp and supporters something to think about.

South Africa should take a lesson from how England played Sri Lanka.

Bowl a good line, and take the catches when they come along.