Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 1st Test: What is the Pitch Update from Durban?

New Delhi: South Africa and Sri Lanka will clash in an exciting test series in Kingsmead, Durban, starting on November 27. The two teams are in contention for the final of the World Test Championship, with Sri Lanka currently in third and the Proteas close behind it. Both sides aim to register resounding victories to topple India and Australia, currently leading the charts.

Sri Lanka has an omnipresent dominance in Durban and has not returned home with a defeat in the 2 games that the Lions have played. Moreover, the recent win against New Zealand back at home and the miraculous win against England in their backyard has proven that the current crop of Lankan players are a tough nut to crack.

Record-breaking stats in Durban:

Will the Kingsmead pitch in Durban aid the bowlers?

The surface at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban will offer significant lateral movement and extra bounce to the fast bowlers. Moreover, the pacers will enjoy the track’s behaviour and trouble the batters throughout the match.

Generally, subcontinent teams have faced difficulty in tackling the extra bounce. However, the Sri Lankan team has a phenomenal record on this pitch, winning the previous two fixtures against South Africa.

Meanwhile, the real game lies in how the batters tackle the pitch’s bounce, which will determine their performance on this wicket. The pitch might deteriorate with time, bringing hit-the-deck pacers into play. So, the batters will have a tough time in the middle, with the toss-winning side likely to bat first.

How can both teams line up for the Durban Test?

South Africa Probable Playing XI

K Verreynne (wk), KA Maharaj, T de Zorzi, DG Bedingham, T Bavuma (C), AK Markram, M Jansen, G Coetzee, T Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, K Rabada

Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI

D Chandimal, S Samarawickrama, K Mendis (wk), PHKD Mendis, NGRP Jayasuriya, D Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, A Mathews, D de Silva (C), L Kumara, K Rajitha