Down, but not out, Sri Lanka look to bounce back against South Africa.
Scramble for Test Championship final should make this encounter a titanic battle.
-BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
(eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka can bounce back and keep their aspirations to play in the Test Championship final alive in the crucial second game in Port Elizabeth’s St. George Park, Gqeberha, if they can overcome an injury ridden South Africa.
Injuries to Wiaan Mulder and Gerald Coetzee has forced South Africa to reshuffle their line-up giving the tourists a glimpse of what could be if they are up to it.
Although beaten soundly in the first Test in Durban, Sri Lanka posess a squad capable of beating anyone when they hit their straps. Their problem clearly lies in their batting which has historic representation to a rollercoaster ride.
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The uncharacteristic debacle at Kingsmead underlines a worrying trend that has coach Sanath Jayasuriya scratching his head as he attempts to find an answer that delivers better consistency.
There’s no team in world cricket that can boast of hundred percent consistency as Australia proved, when they sensationally crashed to India in Perth recently. And what makes it more mystifying was that the Australian upset was delivered by a team that prior to this, arrived after a trouncing by New Zealand at home.
What is heartening though is the narrowing gap between the top rung teams in World cricket which makes it facinating viewing.
Sri Lanka’s experienced men have got to muster their grit and knowledge to upset South Africa at home, as the proud Africans, much like Australia, India, England and New Zealand refuse to be overridden in the face of a challenge.
South Africa have done their homework on the Sri Lankans, hence the venue that historically boasts pace and bounce similar to Kingsmead which assures another testing experience for Sri Lanka’s batters who have shown vulnerability against the rising ball. Lessons learned from the last experience and ability to counter will be key from a Sri Lankan perspective.
Sri Lanka’s hopes of making the final of the Test Championship hinges on a win here, followed by further success in two Tests against Australia in Galle when they return home.
Of course the results of games between the other teams vying for the spot will also come into play.
Much of Sri Lanka’s march towards the final rests on the shoulders of proven veterans Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne who are in the twilight of their careers, with the support of skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis and emerging superstars Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis, all who were inconsistent in the first Test.
That batting line-up rates with the best in the world as the Lankans desperately search for replacements when the veterans depart.
Sri Lanka’s bowling looks solid at the moment but they need expert advice on how to manage the preparation and their fitness and injury issues.
South Africa will still be favourites for a clean sweep, more to enhance their chances of playing in the championship final after surging to second spot with their first Test win that dropped Sri Lanka from third to fifth spot.
With the stakes so high, it should be a titanic battle between two proud nations in the decider.
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