South Africa and Sri Lanka will lock horns in the second Test of the series after the one-sided Boxing-Day Test in Centurion. Sri Lanka is suffering from injuries, while Proteas have an easy chance to take a clean-sweep at home.
Match Timings: Jan 03, 1:30 PM IST
Team Preview
South Africa and Sri Lanka will conclude the Test series in Wanderers before going into another WTC assignment this month. Proteas earned its second victory in World Test Championship to end 2020 higher. De Kock’s first series as Test captain began with so many positives. In the absence of Kagiso Rabada, South Africa edged past Sri Lanka comfortably in the Boxing-Day Test. Their two experienced batsmen Elgar and Plessis, shined with the bat to get a huge 621 in the first innings. Elgar missed out a ton, and Plessis missed out on the double-century. South Africa pulled off a great comeback after the woeful first day with the bowl. On the first day, Sri Lanka posted 340, the highest total by an Asian side in South Africa on Day 1. Markram, Bavuma, and Maharaj also contributed with a half-century, and the collective batting show helped Proteas take a huge 225-runs of lead in the first innings.
The injury-hurt Sri Lanka couldn’t survive in the 2nd innings and suffered an innings and 45 runs defeat. After a heroics performance in 2019-20, the Asian side failed to replicate the same. Lutho Sipamla bagged 6, and Mulder scalped five in the Test. Keshav Maharaj went wicketless on a fast track, but he contributed with the bat. Rabada’s availability is in doubt, but he may feature in this match. Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks will return to the squad replacing Migael Pretorius, who had to be released due to a shoulder injury. Glenton Stuurman has also been out of eleven due to a left quadriceps strain. De Kock will have a tough situation to pick the pace bowling attack from seven bowling options. He may rest Keshav Maharaj as there is not enough spin on Wanderers. They are in a strong situation after including Rabada, and it would be a tough task for Sri Lanka to level the series.
On the other hand, the visitors are suffering from injuries, and it cost them a match in four days. Even Coach Arthur took a dig on the hectic schedule as he may play in the eleven. Sri Lanka started the tour on a high note with a smashing record 340 on the first day, but their bowlers let them down to offer the hosts a huge 225 runs lead. The injuries gave them double scar, and they failed to avoid an innings defeat. Even the last player didn’t come for bat, and Sri Lanka ended its innings on nine wickets. Things went in a tough way as Angelo Mathews withdrew from the tour, and then Suranga Lakmal was ruled out of the Test series. After a hard-fought 79 in the first innings, Dhananjaya de Silva got injured, and later, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dinesh Chandimal also joined the list. De Silva, Lahiru Kumara, and Rajitha have been removed from the squad. Chandimal and Hasaranga both have been recovered, and the duo will be seen in the playing XI.
Pitch Report
Wanderers offers enough bounce, and it’s helpful to the pacers. Spinner has no extra help from the pitch. Batting would be easier later, the match progresses. Both teams would add an extra seamer to the squad.
Possible XI
South Africa
Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder/Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi/Kagiso Rabada
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera/Oshada Fernando
Key Players
South Africa
Dean Elgar
WTC 2019-21 – M: 8, Runs: 571, Avg: 40.78
Previous Test – 95
Kagiso Rabada
WTC 2019-21 – M: 6, Wickets: 21, Avg: 32.85
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne
WTC 2019-21 – M: 5, Runs: 375, Avg: 41.66
Dinesh Chandimal
Domestic season 2020 – M: 8, Runs: 1027, Avg: 93.36
Previous Test – 85 & 25
