The Lankan Lions are masters of their own soil and are virtually unconquerable at home. Topping this off, they are on scorching unbeatable trail where every prey in their path has been wolfed with ruthless ease this year. With a country still buoyed by the English landslide egging them on, they are tipped to rip apart the visiting Proteas.
But Cricket is a game of amazing odds and AB De Villiers men with a raging Dale Steyn thundering in is never going to be a pushover. So let’s get into the pros and cons to see where the balance hangs.
Sri Lanka started 2014, winning trophies in Bangladesh and England. It is the perfect time for the Lankan Lions to bag silverware at home as they take on South Africa in a 3 match ODI series which starts on 6th Sunday at R. Premadasa International Stadium.
Lankan fans with heightened the expectations, will be witnessing their cricketing heroes adorning newly designed playing kits in action at home for the 1st time this year.
The visiting South Africans are an effective set of players with tremendous amount of skills and talent which can devastate any opposition on their day. They have been troubled by the Lankan spinners in the past and the home team will bank on familiar conditions to play their usual brand of island cricket. Sri Lankan’s love posting a formidable score batting first and then strangle the opposition with spinners and tight bowling.
South Africa’s win-loss ratio in Sri Lanka has been pretty poor as they have lost two matches to the one game they have won. South Africa’s plans for the 2015 cricket World cup starts from this tour and they have brought down a strong side which contains high-octane power horses such as Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn. South Africa’s previous appearance in Sri Lanka was in 2013 where they lost the ODI series 4-1.
Angelo Mathews has become ‘Captain Sri Lanka’ for his exceptional work in Bangladesh and England. Can he deliver for the thousands of expectant fans at home?
Sri Lanka usually starts any tour or series as the underdogs but this time around, they have the favourites tag appended to them.
From the three ODIs, two games will be day encounters which will test the ability of South Africans to play under hot and humid weather conditions on pitches which will suit the Lankan spinners. Sri Lankans have been in super form in all aspects of the game and they are renowned as the modern masters of white ball cricket for their consistent performances in coloured clothing in the recent past.
AB De Villiers was declined of Test captaincy in favor of Hashim Amla recently but AB is one of the most exciting players presently in world cricket with a sharp mind to boot. The Proteas’ are desperate to set their records in a positive frame in Sri Lanka. Can AB lead out a thriving attack on the islanders and record an upset ODI series win?
Key Battles:
Lasith Malinga vs AB De Villiers – One of the deadliest fast bowlers will be itching to go neck to neck against one of the most unpredictable yet an amazing striker of the ball. Malinga’s slinging toe crushes are the most difficult deliveries to any batsman. In customary fashion AB will improvise according to the situation and use the crease to his advantage in playing his paddle scoops and reverse sweeps to perfection. Malinga and De Villiers have entertained the cricket audience on many occasions with their extraordinary performances but who will win the battle of greatest entertainer during the month of July?
Dale Steyn vs Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene – Sri Lanka’s batting legends have been the twin towers of the Lankan middle order. They call them ‘best friends’ but we call them brothers. These two have won games for Sri Lanka on countless occasions and this time they will have to surpass the ‘Steyn’ gun. Dale Steyn is South Africa’s bowling lead and the inspiration to all their fast bowlers who are lethally benefited with good pace and bounce. Dale Steyn’s main goal will be to dismiss the Lankan stalwarts as early as possible to open up the inexperienced Lankan middle order.
Team Composition
Sri Lanka – The hosts have named a strong squad to face the ‘Chokers’ of world cricket. Notable absentee from the squad is Dinesh Chandimal who was sacked from his T20 captaincy and ODI vice-captaincy recently due to poor form. Inclusion of Upul Tharanga is largely due to the injury to Kusal Janith Perera who is under the scan to be fit in time for the ODI series. Suranga Lakmal returns to the national fold after an injury lay-off in England. Selectors have named all the familiar faces in order to build a strong team for the ICC cricket world cup in Australia/New Zealand next year.
Full Squad – Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne ( vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera (Subject to Fitness), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal
South Africa – The Proteas’ have brought down a squad filled with experience and youth. The inclusion of Jacques Kallis has bolstered their plans on cementing him as their number 3 batsmen and prime all-rounder of the side. Two main spinners; Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso will have a huge role to play in spin-friendly Lankan surfaces. South Africans possess many attacking stroke makers in their side such as Amla, De Kock, De Villiers, Kallis and Duminy to revolve their batting around.
Full Squad – AB De Villiers (Captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Faf Du Plessis, Quinton De Kock, David Miller, Vernon Philander, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso, Ryan McLaren, Beuran Hendricks.
The Proteas’ have brought down a squad filled with experience and youth. The inclusion of Jacques Kallis has bolstered their plans on cementing him as their number 3 batsmen and prime all-rounder of the side.
Series Prediction
All odds are in favour of the hosts to win the series but they cannot play complacent cricket against a daring South African outfit. ThePapare goes out on a limb and predicts Sri Lanka will go all guns blazing and win the series 2-1 and strengthen their No.2 spot in ICC rankings.
