Spin trial could backfire 

by Rex Clementine 

Since Kumar Sangakkara left, press conferences by Sri Lanka captains are of little use. Angelo Mathews did give you enough stuff to ponder, but once you had heard Sanga nothing else was going to be good enough. In other words, it’s like listening to a parliamentary speech of Lakshman Kadirgamar followed by Dinesh Gunawardene. You don’t get Foreign Ministers of Kadirgamar’s caliber.

Coming to the point, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanka did not say much during yesterday’s media briefing ahead of today’s first ODI against the Proteas. The only significant thing he said was that spin could be a key weapon in the series. Dasun is new to the job and he will learn.

Reading between the lines, you can expect rank turners in this series. Sri Lanka have packed the side with five front line spinners. There are also other spin options among the batsmen, who can send down a few overs. Basically we could be back to the days of Martin Crowe, where the new ball was shared by a spin bowler.

Well that worked with South African teams of yesteryear but the ploy could backfire now.

Preparing turning tracks against South African teams is an age old practice done by successive Sri Lankan teams. But the problem is the current Sri Lankan team doesn’t cover themselves in glory while playing spin. After all, they gave the little heard Somerset spinner Dom Bess a five wicket haul in January.

Both South Africa and Sri Lanka aren’t fairing too well in their efforts to qualify automatically for the 2023 World Cup. South Africa is better off than Sri Lanka and a series win is crucial for the hosts.

It’s tough to predict a Sri Lankan team for today’s game. Pramodaya Wickramasinghe is full of surprises and has reversed more decisions than Bandula Gunawardene.

Sri Lanka (Probable XI):

Avishka Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal  (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera and Praveen Jayawickrama

South Africa (Probable XI):

Janneman Malan, Temba Bavuma (Captain), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kyle Verreynne, Dwaine Pretorius, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi