South Africa eye elusive series win against injury-hit Sri Lanka

Big picture

For two days, Sri Lanka were competitive at Centurion. But with half their resources sapped through injury, and even several batsmen struggling, it would have taken a cricketing miracle on par with Kusal Perera's Kingsmead 153 for the visitors to even remain in contention.

Now, no fewer than seven members of their 21-strong squad are under injury clouds. Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal have all been ruled out of the match, while legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, and seamer Suranga Lakmal are also in doubt. With Angelo Mathews not even having made the trip due to a busted hamstring, Sri Lanka will be without at least seven - possibly eight - first-choice players at the Wanderers. This is a venue at which they've only previously had disasters - two innings losses, both inside three days.

South Africa may be slightly wary of a beleaguered Sri Lanka team, following the 2019 tour in which a depleted Sri Lanka beat them 2-0, but so resounding was their victory at Centurion, that it is difficult not to think of this as a golden opportunity to turn around their poor recent series record. South Africa have lost each of their three most-recent Test series, going back almost two years (even with last week's win, they've lost eight of the last ten Tests).

Not only are they almost at full strength, although Kagiso Rabada won't play as he continues his comeback from a groin strain, several of their players are also in excellent touch. Aiden Markram hit a fluent half-century at Centurion, after coming off excellent first-class performances. Dean Elgar got runs as well, and Faf du Plessis produced his biggest Test innings, falling one short of a double-ton. Their attack ran through Sri Lanka in the second innings, and against a Sri Lanka top order missing some of their best players of seam bowling, South Africa are well-placed to wreak havoc on one of the fastest, bounciest tracks on the planet.

Form guide

South Africa WLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LDWLD

Players to watch

In full flow, Aiden Markram is South Africa's most watchable batsman. His drives are crisp, and when he is timing the ball well, even his pull shot is pretty. Very early in his Test career, Markram was talked about as South Africa's next great batsman, potentially, and when the big hundreds came, including his impressive 152 against Australia at this very venue, Markram seemed to be on track to fulfil those expectations. There's been a cooling off since then, as a questionable technique against spin (among other things) has come into view. But although he only made 68 at Centurion, he seemed the most fluent and well-grooved of South Africa's batsmen, scoring quickly to set the tone for South Africa's innings. He will hope more runs at the Wanderers will help start a more stable and consistent period of his career.

Although it was a hundred in South Africa for Sri Lanka A that initially helped bring Dimuth Karunaratne into the Test team, Karunaratne's Test record in the country has been poor. In 12 innings, he has made just one half-century - a second-innings 50 in Sri Lanka's innings defeat at this venue in 2017. In general, Karunaratne has been weaker in SENA countries - his New Zealand average of 36.08 the highest of that lot. There will be plenty of pressure on his captaincy with such a depleted and inexperienced side expected to take the field, but Karunaratne will also be desperate to get himself to a score.

Pitch and conditions

The Wanderers has a reputation of being South Africa's most seamer-friendly venue and it should remain true to form for this match. Expect pace and bounce, on a green surface, helped by significant rain in the lead-up to the match. The weather will be slightly cooler than it was in Centurion with the Highveld's famed thunderstorms forecast to cool things off.

Team news

Sri Lanka don't really have a lot of options here. Minod Bhanuka and Asitha Fernando are likely to debut. Lahiru Thirimanne and Dushmantha Chameera are also expected to come into the XI. If Hasaranga can't play, Lasith Embuldeniya seems likeliest to replace him.

Sri Lanka XI (probable) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Minod Bhanuka, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Vishwa Fernando, 11 Asitha Fernando

South Africa will be without uncapped duo Raynard van Tonder, who fractured a finger on his left hand during a training session on match eve, and Glenton Stuurman, who was released from the squad the previous day with a thigh strain. Barring any other last-minute injuries, the batting line-up should be unchanged.

South Africa XI (probable) 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Rassie van der Dussen 4 Faf du Plessis, 5 Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), 6 Temba Bavuma 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Lutho Sipamla

Stats and trivia

"The scoreboard says 0 when we start again, it doesn't say 600-plus. It would be nice if it said 600-plus but we've got to start again and use the confidence we have coming into the second Test."