South Africa will be looking to seal a first바카라 웹사이트series win over Sri Lanka since January 2017 when the teams meet in바카라 웹사이트the second and final Test바카라 웹사이트in Johannesburg. (More Cricket News)
Quinton de Kock started his Test captaincy stint바카라 웹사이트with a comprehensive바카라 웹사이트victory in Centurion last time out, despite the visitors making 396 in their first innings.
Former skipper바카라 웹사이트Faf du Plessis weighed in with a career-best score of 199 as the hosts replied with a massive total of 621, allowing the bowlers to wrap up the win with well over a day to spare.
Sri Lanka바카라 웹사이트were바카라 웹사이트not helped by a number of injuries during proceedings at바카라 웹사이트SuperSport바카라 웹사이트Park –바카라 웹사이트Dhananjaya de Silva retired hurt on 79 on day one and did not bat again, while바카라 웹사이트Kasun Rajitha went down just 2.1 overs in the game.
The duo, along with Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Kumara and Oshada Fernando, have been ruled out for the second match, while바카라 웹사이트Suranga Lakmal remains doubtful having already missed the opener.바카라 웹사이트
Sri Lanka's바카라 웹사이트injuries are not just a concern for바카라 웹사이트this series either, as the first of two Tests against England on home soil begins on January 14.
Despite the obvious problems for their opponents, South Africa opening batsman Dean Elgar insists they will not be so slow to get going this time.
"We've obviously got to try and throw the first punch, which we didn't do in the first Test," Elgar said, according to ESPNCricinfo.
"It's almost like we waited for them to make a play and put ourselves under a lot of pressure with them scoring almost 400 runs.
"We know if we strike first with the ball we will put them under a lot of pressure especially on a wicket at the Wanderers that generally assists seam bowling."
South Africa went down to바카라 웹사이트England by 191 runs in their most recent바카라 웹사이트fixture in the format at the venue, back in January 2020, but have not lost back-to-back바카라 웹사이트Tests at the Wanderers바카라 웹사이트since 2006.
Kagiso Rabada is part of the바카라 웹사이트squad after missing the previous game with a groin strain, though바카라 웹사이트both바카라 웹사이트Raynard van Tonder바카라 웹사이트and바카라 웹사이트Glenton Stuurman were바카라 웹사이트released on the eve of the match due to injuries.
RABADA EYES LANDMARK바카라 웹사이트
Head coach Mark Boucher has stated South Africa will take no risks with the fit-again Rabada. However, while not necessarily missed in the opener as others filled in admirably,바카라 웹사이트his presence would undoubtedly strengthen바카라 웹사이트the home team's attack.
Rabada바카라 웹사이트is on바카라 웹사이트the brink of an impressive milestone바카라 웹사이트too, as the 25-year-old바카라 웹사이트is just three wickets away from becoming the eighth player to take 200 for South Africa in Tests.
Achieve바카라 웹사이트the feat in Johannesburg and he will become the third-fastest to the number in Proteas history, only behind Dale Steyn (39 Tests) and Allan Donald (42) in terms of matches played.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Sri Lanka are missing바카라 웹사이트several key players for the final game of the trip, though바카라 웹사이트Dimuth Karunaratne hopes those in the final바카라 웹사이트XI will make the most of the chance to impress.
The captain himself will hope to make greater contributions with the bat – he scored 22 and six in his two knocks at Centurion –바카라 웹사이트but it is the bowling department where the team will be바카라 웹사이트lacking바카라 웹사이트in experience, particularly if바카라 웹사이트Asitha Fernando is selected to make his debut.
"You can't play in your comfort zone all the time, and it's a good opportunity for me and the players who will play to show what they've got," Karunaratne said. "It's going to be a challenge for me to work out how to utilise this inexperienced side.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- South Africa have managed to win 12 of their previous 16 Test matches played on home soil – losing only three of those encounters (D1).
-바카라 웹사이트Sri Lanka have won only one of their last six Tests to begin a calendar year (D1, L4). Their solitary victory was in January 2020, beating바카라 웹사이트Zimbabwe by 10 wickets.
-바카라 웹사이트Quinton de Kock (2,952) is closing in on 3,000 runs in바카라 웹사이트Tests for South Africa. He would become the 16th man to reach that milestone for the Proteas.
-바카라 웹사이트Out of Wanindu Hasaranga's바카라 웹사이트77 runs scored in the first Test,바카라 웹사이트86 per cent바카라 웹사이트came바카라 웹사이트in boundaries, though바카라 웹사이트just three of his 16 in total were through the leg side.
-바카라 웹사이트Sri Lanka have lost 12 men's바카라 웹사이트Tests in South Africa, their second-worst total in any country away from home (13 in Australia).
