Proteas are back to their own brand of play with change in the environment and captaincy in the longer format with the new Players chipping in at crucial times making the experienced one's to feel ease after a bit of set back in their territory. Now with the new energy pumping in, they face the Lankans who are searching for players to step up at the big stage in big fashion as the test series set to kick-start from Monday at Port Elizabeth.
Lankans still finding players to fill the spaces of Sanga and Mahela and it has been a hard foil to replace the greats but the finds are getting it with experience in the form of Kusal Mendis, DeSilva and kusal Perera. While the opening slots are yet to be stabilized and their strength lies in the middle order with Mathews and Chandimal, who were returning from injuries and with addition of Taranga the middle order looks more stable.
Meanwhile the return of Chameera, Prasad and Lakmal from injuries will make them feel more comfortable unlike in England where injuries shrinked the bowling resources and Hearth has been their trump bowler irrespective of conditions.
On the other hand the Hosts don't have a concern to look after at, with an enthralling win in Australia they found their lost Momentum in the format. Although lot of speculation gone around the corners about ball tampering over their new Captain but know it's all seems to to be settled even with an 100% fine of match fee and they are happy with his presence.
And his Ton in the last match around the boo’s of Auusie fans showed his mental toughness, Apart from that Bavuma, Dekock, Rabada and Abbott all stepped in the victory which has been their massive difference alongside Maharaj. So now it's all about settling in the squad for Young players and also for Duminy who is known to fluctuate with his form.
Where Lankans too coming into the series with some form on offer, with the victories against Aussies at home and Zimbabwe earlier in December, but the conditions are now going to be quite foreign and their history isn't in their favour with only win this apart of the world. Adding to the history the present seems bit bitter too with key players not in action for a while.
But Port Elizabeth is a venue known to assist spinners more as the game progress and flattens but the early movement in the pitch going to be crucial to handle for either sides.
At the end taking all the considerations into account one can see Lankans as pure underdog's and it will help them for good with the tag, although it has been a while Lankans set in transformation but the results yet show case in terms of stats. And the series will be the biggest challenge to their emerging players to establish themselves.
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