South Africa v Sri Lanka - Preview

South Africa begins a three Test series against Sri Lanka at Centurion today, which will be played over the Christmas/New Year period and affords them the opportunity of overtaking India for second place on the ICC Test rankings. Captain Graeme Smith would dearly like a confident showing against Dilshan Tillekeratne's men and ideally a 3-0 result as a springboard into the much anticipated visit to England in the northern summer.

Several things are working in their favour, including home advantage on spicy pitches. Their new ball attack of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel was greatly strengthened by the addition of Vernon Philander against Australia, so much so that Morkel slipped down to first change and let Philander swing the new ball in both directions. Against a Sri Lankan batting line up that has had few successes in 2011 and has often been exposed, that could be a juicy combination toward South African success. Dilshan's own form has been woefully inconsistent over the past two calendar years, with his epic 193 against England mid year being the only century in that time. There have been some fifties scattered in among the twenty five innings in two years but sixteen innings that were sub 30 are starting to make for the sort of consistency no international captain wants to maintain and he's not the only one in the top order who needs to step up. Maheela Jaywardene has had his worst year in international cricket, averaging 25 and with his fighting hundred against Australia at Galle his only hundred. For a man who will pass ten thousand Test runs in this series, at an average of 51, this is a meagre return and like Thilan Samaraweera, age may be starting to weary legs and enthusiasm. Being mentally weary is not a pre-condition one wants to bring to Centurion against this South African attack.

Dilshan - rock star appearance,
garage band performance

Sri Lanka have had a dismal year, losing all three series against England, Australia and Pakistan. Admittedly, each was a 1-0 margin in a three match series but that's still nine matches without a victory. In fact, its more than two years since they have won a series, a 2-0 home win at their zenith against New Zealand. Tillerkeratne's captaincy has been questioned during the last twelve months, with lacklustre performances and too many occasions in the field when he seemed disinterested. There has also been the constant shifting from opening to the middle order and back again in order find the rock under which he last hid his form. The retirement of the two bowling aces, Muralitheran and Vaas hasn't helped but too many opportunities have been lost by the batsmen. Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welegeera and Rangara Herath have all had their moments with the ball but may find South Africa's batsman laying in waiting, ready to effect an ambush and ready to plunder the runs hidden in their tucker bag.

The bright light has been the sparkling form of former skipper and former wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who passed 100 Tests during the year and will likely pass 1000 runs in the calendar year for the fourth time in a twelve year Test career. He has averaged 54 this year, just a tick under his career average and has three hundreds, including two in the most recent series against Pakistan in the UAE, one of them a double. Angelo Matthews is close to his first thousand runs in Test cricket and has shown promise in the middle order but needs to convert more of his fifties to big runs. Tharanga Paranavitana might be the patient man at the top of the order who can combat the pace battery but again, he needs to convert occupation of the crease into big scores.

Its not all beer and skittles for the South Africans.

Graeme Smith - trying not to choke

They were rusty in the ridiculously short series against the Australians. In reality, after decimating them in the first Test at Capetown and being in the dominant position on the last day in Johannesburg, they should have been able to finish the Australians off. The suggestion that they again choked was at first denied by the captain but later, public musings from officials and former players admitted that under pressure, their side tended toward the panic that was evident in the last two hours as Australia won a substantial victory batting fourth. Sides who aspire to number one must never allow such fightbacks but as yet, the South Africans are to prove to the world they are good finishers. Smith must take much of the recent blame. Under pressure, he often fails to take charge and be decisive. The ponderous consultation with senior players before the ultimate over at the Wanderers should have instead been one man standing tall and commanding what would happen but he has become accustomed to defeat snatched from the jaws of victory and the smell of fear is about him in the clinches.

After a testing outing, the batsmen will enjoy the reduction of heat which the youngster Pat Cummins was able to light under them. There are no such terrors in the Sri Lankan attack, although Welegedera may cause some of them concern bowling at a fair clip from left arm over. This shapes as a feast for the likes of Jacues Kallis and Hasim Amla and with Jacques Rudolph needing runs to justify his comeback and the others disappointing against Australia, Sri Lanka may be paying the bills the Australians ran up in November.

In South Africa's defence, they were underdone against Australia. Even with those two Tests, only New Zealand and Bangladesh have played less Tests in the current ICC rankings period. The two Tests against the Aussies were their first since last December. In the same period they have played 15 ODI's and three Twenty20 internationals. Why have they been so hidden in the schedule? It appears that the first half of 2012 is no better with only two Tests on a tour of New Zealand in February as preparation for potentially the battle for Test No 1 status against England in July and August.

The First begins today.