Sri Lanka’s batting hopes in the second Test, beginning in capital Colombo from tomorrow, rest on former captain Mahela Jayawardene, who has scored 10 hundreds at Colombo — the most by any batsman at a single venue. The veteran middle order batsman, 37, is due to retire next month after the two-Test series at home against Pakistan.
An upbeat South Africa will look to carry their winning momentum in the second Test against Sri Lanka, beginning tomorrow, and break a 21-year-old jinx on the island.
The Proteas, the current world number two, have not won a Test series in Sri Lanka since 1993 when they first toured the country and beat the hosts 1-0. On their next three tours, they won one Test while losing two series and drawing one.
But a new dawn seems to be beckoning for the visitors after they won the first Test in Galle on Sunday by 153 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, and hand Hashim Amla a winning start to his captaincy.
“Not many teams have come here and won a Test series so it’s obviously on the back of our minds,” said Amla, the first non-white player to lead South Africa in a full-time capacity.
Amla, 31, was named captain last month following the retirement of Graeme Smith who led the Proteas in a record 109 Tests.
Amla’s debut leadership was unconventional and daring, evident in the way he declared the innings at tea on the fourth day rather than take the safer option of batting out the last session.
It meant the hosts needed to score 370 runs in four sessions to win the match.
At one point, it appeared the game was slipping away from South Africa but fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel ripped through the top order on the fifth morning to ensure a well-deserved win.
Steyn will again be crucial at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, where South Africa won by an innings and 208 runs in 1993 thanks to fast bowlers Allan Donald and Brett Schultz. Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews conceded that Steyn would be a big factor in Colombo.
“Steyn is an unbelievable bowler, any captain would love to have a guy like him in his side,” he said.
“On that flat wicket (in Galle), he came out really hard and bowled fast. Not too many fast bowlers end up with nine-wicket hauls in Galle.”
The other concern for Mathews, apart from Steyn, was the middle order that has failed to click, even in the preceding one-dayers which South Africa won 2-1, their first ODI series win in Sri Lanka.
“Right from the ODI series, our middle-order batting has not been delivering,” the Sri Lankan skipper said.
“We have seven batters in the side and to expect only one player to deliver all the time is wrong.”
Mathews can rely on at least one player to come good with the bat in the decider—Mahela Jayawardene has scored 10 hundreds at Colombo—the most by any batsman at a single venue. Jayawardene, 37, is due to retire next month after a two-Test series at home against Pakistan.
A victory at Colombo will see Amla’s men reclaim the number one ranking they lost to Australia recently after two years at the top. The last time South Africa played a Test series in Sri Lanka in 2006, they lost 2-0, but only three players from that tour are part of the current side.
Sri Lanka pacer Eranga ruled out of 2nd Test
Sri Lanka’s frontline seamer Shaminda Eranga was yesterday ruled out of the deciding second Test against South Africa due to a hand injury, dealing a fresh blow to the beleaguered hosts.
Eranga, 28, tore the webbing between the thumb and index finger of his right hand while fielding on day one of the first Test in Galle which Sri Lanka lost by 153 runs to go down 1-0 in the two-Test rubber. He bowled just nine overs in the game, with his injury requiring eight stitches.
“Eranga is definitely out of the second Test. The selectors are deciding whether to rope in a replacement for him in the squad,” Sri Lankan media manager Rajith Fernando said.
Eranga’s absence will be sorely felt by Sri Lanka as he has been the most effective bowler for them this year, taking 25 wickets at an average of 27.64.
Sri Lanka, who recently lost the one-day series against South Africa 2-1, have Dhammika Prasad and left-armer Chanaka Welegedara as fast-bowling cover.
Meanwhile, South Africa have called in former coach Gary Kirsten for some batting and strategic advice as they seek their first Test series win on the island in 21 years. Kirsten relinquished his head coach position with the national team last year but he has been used as a consultant on an ad hoc basis.
“The arrangement (for him to join the team in Sri Lanka) was confirmed prior to the start of the two-Test series, and will continue throughout the season,” Cricket South Africa said in a release.
Kirsten, a former South Africa batsman, will be with the team in Colombo until the second day of the Test match which is set to begin tomorrow.