***Official*** Sri Lanka in South Africa 2016/2017

[vcs]

Andrew Fidel Fernando: Which Sri Lanka can South Africa expect? | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

I love this article.

Now meet Sri Lanka, losers of six of their last seven away Tests against top-eight opposition, a cacophony of nicks, constantly 50 for 4, masters of the morose end-of-day TV appearance, deliverers of over after over after over of insipid medium-pace, shelling catches like peanuts on the train to Jaffna, sapping the will to watch, driving grown men to tears.

 

[Burgey]

Thabk god I'm not the only one who sees a SL tour for what it invariably is.

 

[anil1405]

So the hosts are batting first. Expected 11 for Proteas and Lanka opt for 3 seamers and Herath.

 

[Gnske]

Love tuning in to see Anderson's miserable failure against Eranga.

 

[vcs]

Was hoping SA would bowl TBH. Philander-Abbott-Rabada should enjoy bowling to this SL top order.

 

[Athlai]

Charmanders back!

 

[morgieb]

Interesting that Lakmal's opening ahead of Charmander.

Expecting one close Test that Sri Lanka end up losing and two floggings this series. Though the best place for the close Test to happen is this one, and Sri Lanka lost the toss....

 

[harsh.ag]

All right let's get this series going.

Come on, Lakmal! Looking like a 70s Bollywood villain but what the hell.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Sri Lanka's greatest generation have dominated at home just fine like everyone else. From 2001-2014, they have only lost to Australia at home, and one of them was in 04 against the greatest Australian side. Even India as number 1 team failed to beat them in 2010.

Their home domination is no different from the home domination of an England or an Australia at most times. The only difference is, even during their peak as a test side, they never had that short period when they won/drew a few series away like Pakistan in the 80s or India in the 2000s or England in the 2010s.

That's the only thing separating them from the other good teams at their peak.

That's like saying the only thing separating a guy who scored 20 runs (away record) from the guy who scored a 100 runs (home record) is merely 80 runs.

 

[harsh.ag]

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Does not look like this game will deliver a result.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Looks like a nice pitch to buffer some batting stats. Diminy might score a double here.

 

[Rasimione]

Is there no one in Sri Lanka capable of bowling consistently above 140 KPH? This attack is not gonna get 20 wickets.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Might as well bring on herath for his daily 40 overs

 

[NUFAN]

Does not look like this game will deliver a result.

Big call. I don't think SL automatically bats 200 overs this Test. I'm hoping they do though, so I wouldn't mind a tight draw.

 

[TT Boy]

Is there no one in Sri Lanka capable of bowling consistently above 140 KPH? This attack is not gonna get 20 wickets.

Prasad was fairly lively and turned himself into a very good international quick. Unfortunately, he seems pretty much finished - hasn't played a test since October last year and little to no cricket since then. Big loss for Sri Lanka.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Is there no one in Sri Lanka capable of bowling consistently above 140 KPH? This attack is not gonna get 20 wickets.

Chameera can bowl pretty quick.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Prasad was fairly lively and turned himself into a very good international quick. Unfortunately, he seems pretty much finished - hasn't played a test since October last year and little to no cricket since then. Big loss for Sri Lanka.

Yeah loved watching him bowl

Still injured is he?

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Big call. I don't think SL automatically bats 200 overs this Test. I'm hoping they do though, so I wouldn't mind a tight draw.

There might be, pitch just looks pretty placid. That said Lanka will miss Sangakarra here.

Will be a shame if they just roll over though, I'm just expecting some forms of fight.

 

[Athlai]

Why the hell haven't they bowled Charmander yet?