Sri Lanka and South Africa brace for the big spoils in the upcoming instant cricket ODI and T20 series with the kick off being the ODI opener on September 3 at the R. Premadasa International Stadium. For a nation that has shown the way to the rest of the world by the hitting over the top new dimension ushered in the 1995-96 world cup when Sri Lanka won the pot of gold, it will be a challenging test of strength for the former world champions led by Dasun Shanaka.seeking to revive a flagging image in recent years. Shanaka leads an exuberant young outfit against a rearing to go young South African outfit. The South African ODI XI will be led by Temba Bayuma with Quinton de Kock rested and arriving later along with David Miller and Lungi Ngidi for the T20Is. Miller is reported to be recovering from a hamstring injury, de Kock is rested and Ngidi is off due to personal reasons.
The tour does hold true to both sides questing to come good. Given the new look Sri Lankan outfit with its old stock dispensed with, several aspiring youngsters yearning to raise their hands adds impetus to the contest. While the 29-year old Dasun Shanaka has emerged as the center piece to Sri Lanka’s campaign to touch wood for his deliverance of two series wins against Pakistan and India at T20 level driven by his all-round fiery approach with the bat, the Lankan camp has some solid youngsters in its ranks such as all-round leg spin prodigy Wanindu Hasaranga and pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera. The batting runs strong. The naming of young prolific scorer Kamindu Mendis stirs the imagination while in the ranks to draw from are such exciting stroke makers such as the explosive Kusal Janith Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Hasaranga, and technically sound batsmen in Dhananjaya de Silva, young Charith Asalanka and the recalled Dinesh Chandimal.
The bowling runs strong with Dushmantha Chameera the prime pace bowler following his performances in England and in the home series against India while Nuwan Pradeep has marked a strong return following his performances in the recent top flight T20 domestic tournament. On the spin front there is the seasoned Akila Dananjaya while there is quite a crop of young hopefuls to draw from such as Praveen Jayawickrama among others.
The tour exchanges cover three-match One-Day (ODI) and five-match T20 internationals from September 03 to September 14, 2021.
Comparatively, South Africa enjoys a slight edge over Sri Lanka at both levels. They have won 44 ODIs to Sri Lanka’s 31 from 77 matches, and 8 T20s to Sri Lanka’s 5 of 13 exchanges.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Ashen Bandara, Kamindu Mendis, Minod Banuka, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Madushanka (Subject to fitness), Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Mahesh Theekshana, Pulina Tharanga, Ramesh Mendis, Sahan Aarchchige, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando, Ishan Jayaratne, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando.
South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), George Linde, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Junior Dala, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen.
South Africa T20I squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Lizaad Williams
