Driven by youth, Sri Lanka embark on tough Test
by Tristan Holme • Last updated on Sat, 24 Dec, 2016, 02:22 PM
As South Africa prepare for the first Test against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day, it seems a good time to reflect on the difference that a year can make. The corresponding match last season saw the Proteas lose to England by 241 runs, throwing their Test team into a full-blown crisis. South Africa went on to use 17 players in the four-match series, as the selectors stumbled around in search of the combination that might take the team forward into a new era. Hashim Amla quit as captain midway through, and the series was perhaps best summed up by Quinton de Kock when he injured his knee whilst walking his dogs on the eve of a match.
Ahead of the three-match contest against Sri Lanka this summer, South Africa are in a rather better space. Not only do they have a settled side, but they look strong even without the availability of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. De Villiers' selfless decision to give up a captaincy that he wanted so badly, has given Faf du Plessis the position, and few would argue that he is the best man for the job, especially after leading the Proteas to a third straight series victory in Australia.
In effect, South Africa have used the experience of last summer to achieve a better standing. While the selectors appeared to be fumbling around in the dark at the time, they have at least emerged with a greater understanding of what their best team looks like.
Stephen Cook was only brought in for the fourth Test against England but has proven his worth as a dogged opening partner for Dean Elgar. De Kock's unpredictability has been embraced rather than eyed with suspicion, allowing him to develop into one of the world's most intimidating wicketkeeper-batsmen. Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Piedt and Hardus Viljoen have fallen by the wayside as better alternatives have emerged. Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma have kicked on from that breakthrough series against England.
On the face of it then, it is difficult to see Sri Lanka getting a look-in - especially from the viewpoint of your average South African supporter. It has been five years since Sri Lanka last visited these shores, and Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal and Kaushal Silva are the only survivors from that tour, leaving many unfamiliar faces. Yet Sri Lanka too have enjoyed a sharp turnaround over the past 12 months, rebounding from four consecutive defeats to win their last five Tests by convincing margins.
In that context, Kusal Mendis' extraordinary maiden Test century against Australia at Pallekele takes on even greater significance, given that it sparked the win which started that run. The 21-year-old is just one among a fine crop of young batsmen, who have sprouted as Sri Lanka are coming to terms with the retirements of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. All of the newcomers made the most of a quiet tour of Zimbabwe recently in the absence of Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, to cement their places in the side, but will now face a far sterner challenge. New Zealand proved earlier this year that thumping victories in Zimbabwe were little indication of ability, when they moved south of the Limpopo River.
At least, this group of tourists have been allowed a friendlier starting point to the series than their 2011 predecessors, who encountered the classic South African welcome for Asian sides: an opening Test on the highveld, on a greentop. They lost the toss, were stuck in to bat, and lost by an innings. This time around, the series starts on the slower surface of St. George's Park, moves to the slightly quicker Newlands and then finishes at the Wanderers. "I suppose from a Sri Lankan perspective they wouldn't mind starting (in Port Elizabeth)," du Plessis admitted. "We would have preferred Johannesburg or a Centurion or even a Kingsmead, where it can be quick and bouncy and you can leave a bit of grass on the wicket. But we do play really well there and have a really good record there, so we'll run on that."
South Africa have won two of their last three Tests at St. George's Park, with a rain-affected draw against the West Indies being the odd match out. With the better pace attack, they will start as heavy favourites given the conditions, and will hope that Hashim Amla can make a return to form. After 98 runs in five innings in Australia, he is certainly due, although du Plessis remains predictably unruffled. "It's going to happen that you get out of form and you get out to good balls, but guys who are batting well at that point in time must make sure they score the big runs," he said. "Whether someone like Hashim had a series where he did not score the runs that he wanted to, is not as important to me as making sure that Quinton, who was in form, cashed in like he did."
Mathews might send a similar message to his batsmen on their first tour of South Africa, where getting past the first 30 balls often unlocks a passage to good batting conditions. The tourists managed that feat in a warm-up match in Potchefstroom, but that was against an attack with minimal credibility. Facing up to a resurgent South African side hardened by the experiences of last summer, will be a far more formidable prospect.
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