South Africa favourites on another 'green top' (Preview)

Venue: Kingsmead, Durban

Start Time: 08:00 GMT (13:30 IST)

If we take a look at the record of subcontinental teams in South Africa, it would be safe to conclude that they have struggled while the hosts have truly dominated. India despite all the batting resources in the last two decades, have failed to win a series here. However, Sri Lanka’s numbers are even worse, not a single Test win on South African soil, their best result so far- a solitary draw at Kingsmead eleven years ago.

On of the major reasons for such lop-sided figures is the nature of pitches in this part of the world. Batsmen brought up on the flattest of flat tracks find it difficult to score with the ball buzzing past their ears and similarly, the spin-dominated bowling attacks find it difficult to take twenty wickets.

In the current series, Sri Lanka have encountered both these problems. To make matters worse, the curators employed by South Africa this year have decided to spice up the tracks even more. The two-Test series against Australia had tracks tailor-made for the formidable South African bowling line-up. The Aussies collapsed to their lowest score in about a century at Newlands. That tactic was repeated in the first Test as Sri Lanka were welcomed with a grassy 22-yard strip at Centurion.

With Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander getting the ball to do all sorts of tricks, Sri Lanka found life difficult. However, their sub-200 scores in both innings can’t be justified. When you are rolled over for180 and 150 against a top-flight side, expect no mercy. While the margin of defeat was an innings and 81 runs, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s men were routed inside three days.

The resultant ten day gap before the Boxing Day Test has given the Islanders enough time to do some soul searching and may be fine tune their batting skills. If they are to compete as equals in this series, their batsmen have to lead from the front and not be like sitting ducks in a hunting reserve.

For South Africa, the brief is loud and clear. Prepare a green top and let loose your most potent weapon. Dale Steyn, who became the second fastest man to 250 scalps in the last match, is a captain’s dream bowler. Vernon Philander’s four five-wicket hauls in three matches make him the perfect choice to share the new ball with Steyn. Throw in the mix Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir, South Africa have a bowling line-up capable of winning matches on its own.

While, South Africa are overwhelming favourites to clinch the series but Sri Lanka would take heart from one statistic. The hosts have lost their last three Tests at Kingsmead and would be hoping to extend that streak and thus keep the series alive.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Kanishka Alvitigala, Dhammika Prasad

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (Capt), AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe