Few  positives in South Africa, more challenges ahead  

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka’s return to international cricket after the pandemic did not go to plan in South Africa as they lost both Test matches by heavy margins – the first by an innings and the next by ten wickets. Having overcome the Proteas in their own backyard last time around, there were a lot of people who were hopeful of a good show in South Africa this time around.

The last time the Tests were played in coastal cities of Durban and Port Elizabeth. But this time the Sri Lankans were taken interior to the Highveld where the Wanderers and Centurion hosted the games. Located at close to 6000 feet above sea level, international sport can be demanding at these places and  the Sri Lankans were not up to the task. Pity them that they went into the series just ten days after a domestic T-20 competition without even a warm-up game.

With England abandoning their tour of South Africa halfway through due to breach of health protocols, Sri Lanka had no reason to rush to South Africa. They could have taken their time and put everything in order. But practically, with so many postponed series of 2020 taking place this year, cricket boards are left with little time and the reason to play the series over the festive season is understandable.

Four players sustained injuries during the first Test that ruled them out of the second Test while Suranga Lakmal and Oshada Fernando who were carrying injuries and missed the first Test never regained fitness for the second game and that saw Sri Lanka fielding a weak attack at the Wanderers.

Sri Lanka’s selectors and team management need to take stock about the high amount of injuries that their players carry and there’s an urgent need to find out ways of injury prevention and management. The Centurion Test would have been a lot more close had the team not been reduced to just  two bowlers.  Often in Test match cricket when you post nearly 400 runs batting first that is good enough to test the opposition.

Kusal Mendis ended the tour having picked  up three ducks in a row. He is so close to emulating Mark Waugh. The former Australian great during a tour of Sri Lanka in 1992 picked up a pair in the second Test at RPS and another pair in the third Test at Moratuwa. He was nicknamed Audi.

Posting Sri Lanka’s highest total ever in South Africa – 396 at Centurion was a massive positive. Far stronger Sri Lankan sides have toured South Africa and have fared worse.

Sri Lanka have such a poor record at the Wanderers  that just one batsman had scored a half-century previously. It was good to see skipper Dimuth Karunarante putting out a splendid fight to post a hundred against a formidable attack.

Vishwa Fernando’s bowling was the other highlight of the tour. The left-arm seamer  was on the money bowling lengthy spells and troubling the batsmen especially with the new ball.

The national cricket team arrived in the island on Friday and the challenge for them now is to adjust to the home conditions against England. From playing in the hard and bouncy surfaces of South Africa to low and slow tracks of Galle, the technique and mindset becomes so different.   

There is plenty of cricket over the next few months as well. Soon after the England series, Sri Lanka will travel to the Caribbean where they will play all three formats and then return home to host Bangladesh for Tests.