*Official* Sri Lanka Tour of South Africa 2019

[Dendarii]

Poor Theunis.... that selection is a pure 'we don't want to drop a fast bowler' cope out.

Philander does have a higher batting average than De Bruyn...

I agree that it is a bit of a cop out, but Olivier was the man of the series against Pakistan, so it would be very harsh to leave him out. And the track record of the other three makes it very difficult not to pick them. But while it's probably OK to do this against Sri Lanka, Philander at 7 is not a long-term solution, so at some point they are going to have to make what admittedly is a very tough decision, but they can't keep going in with all four of those quicks and a spinner as it weakens the batting too much.

 

[SeamUp]

Elgar isn't in his element right now.

I do feel that it is risky to go with 6 batsmen. If you get a few good balls and 3 for nothing you in trouble.

Amla needs some runs at his home venue for once. Who knows if he plays another test here.

 

[StephenZA]

Elgar isn't in his element right now.

He did not look good....

 

[StephenZA]

Amla gets really really lucky....

 

[SeamUp]

Amla gets really really lucky....

13 seconds. Disasterous for Sri Lanka and really poor.

 

[StephenZA]

Apparently Dar just did not signal for it, for some unknown reason?

 

[Borges]

13 seconds. Disasterous for Sri Lanka and really poor.

Time to introduce the mother of Decision Review Systems: one to review umpiring howlers in the use use of DRS.

 

[SeamUp]

Amla remains 20 runs away from going past Graeme Smith as SAs 2nd leading run scorer in tests.

 

[YorksLanka]

Good start from us. Making use of the conditions..fear for our batting those as with this team, one in the top 6 has to score big and currently, no one in our side is scoring...

 

[YorksLanka]

Lovely ball from Vishwa there..got the wicket it deserved

 

[SeamUp]

This should flatten out to a good batting strip if recent history is anything to go by. So for Sri Lanka to get 3 early poles with us going in with 6 batsmen could be massive.

 

[SeamUp]

Lovely ball from Vishwa there..got the wicket it deserved

His ball v Elgar was just running in off the bowling angle and its what made him play.

Again the ball for Markram gives addage to saying getting the ball just to move enough is better than too much.

 

[Dendarii]

Bavuma to do another rescue job?

 

[YorksLanka]

His ball v Elgar was just running in off the bowling angle and its what made him play.

Again the ball for Markram gives addage to saying getting the ball just to move enough is better than too much.

Absolutely agree, that slight seam in from a left armer is ideal..

 

[StephenZA]

Amla remains 20 runs away from going past Graeme Smith as SAs 2nd leading run scorer in tests.

I hope he gets it soon.... because after the WC I'm very quickly coming around to the idea that my favourite players needs to retire (get dropped). To much young talent available.

 

[Heboric]

What is it with Durban and the Proteas

Didnt we lose a test against Sri Lanka in Durban previously

 

[StephenZA]

What is it with Durban and the Proteas

Didnt we lose a test against Sri Lanka in Durban previously

Only test match SL has ever won in SA... back in 2003, I think?

 

[Borges]

What is it with Durban and the Proteas

It swings, and then it spins; but it doesn't seam or bounce all that much. So if Steyn is AWOL, you are cooked.

 

[harsh.ag]

When the conditions are overcast, teams should reverse their batting order. It's only logical.

 

[StephenZA]

SA batsmen look undercooked and unsettled for some reason... bit of movement but the pitch is not some green vipers nest.