Cape Town - Sri Lanka might be considering a couple of changes for the second of three Tests against South Africa, to start at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday after being let down by members of both the batting and bowling departments in the 206-run loss in Port Elizabeth in the first Test. The day before the second Test, Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan captain, spoke about the need for his team to be mentally tough, but hinted that there could be some changes in the playing XI.
South Africa looked certain to go into the match with an unchanged playing XI, but Sri Lanka doesn’t have the same luxury.
Mathews said that Kusal Perera, the attacking left-hand batsman, might have to rework his strategy.
Perera, the No. 3 batsman, was dismissed for seven and six in the first Test after playing ill-judged cut shots, and though Mathews didn’t want the youngster to change his natural game, he did say that slashing the South African pacers on bouncy pitches “wasn’t the right game plan”.
Upul Tharanga, the 31-year-old left-hand batsman who has played 23 Test matches and brings a more conservative approach to his game, could be in the fray for selection, hinted Mathews.
Sri Lanka, at its best when playing in subcontinental conditions with Rangana Herath leading a strong spin attack, fielded three pacers in Port Elizabeth, and there could be a rethink on that front as well. Suranga Lakmal picked up his first five-wicket haul in Tests matches in Port Elizabeth, but Dushmantha Chameera, particularly, and Nuwan Pradeep were unimpressive.
Though Mathews said Chameera, who is returning from injury, could get another chance, Sri Lanka has the option of adding Dilruwan Perera, the off-spinner, to the mix, which would also strengthen the lower-order batting.
In Port Elizabeth, South Africa got good contributions from all its batsmen, with the exception of Temba Bavuma, and all the four frontline bowlers – Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj - were among the wickets.
That gives it a strong, well-rounded appearance, especially at a venue where it has won 19 of the 29 Tests played since 1993.
There has been an extended period of hot and dry weather in Cape Town in recent times, but the pitch is still likely to offer good pace and bounce than Port Elizabeth, even though the spinners could play a role later in the match.
Teams
South Africa (likely):
Faf du Plessis (capt), Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Theunis de Bruyn, Wayne Parnell.
Sri Lanka:
Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal, Vikum Sanjaya.