SA vs SL Match Preview- 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024

South Africa and Sri Lanka prepare for the high-stakes, two Test series beginning on November 27 at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban with hopes of qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) finals still on the line. Fifth-placed Proteas (4-3) require all four remaining Tests – two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan – to end up at the Lord's final. They take some momentum into the series after thoroughly thrashing Bangladesh, where Tony de Zorzi and debutant Tristan Stubbs led the batting charge. Third-placed Sri Lanka (5-4) enjoys a more favorable position, but they will have to win on South African soil if they are to keep their dream of final qualification alive. Also read: South Africa Test squad for Sri Lanka series announced, Temba Bavuma returns The spotlight falls on key individual matchups, most particularly between South Africa's in-form pacer Kagiso Rabada with 26 wickets in 2024 and steady bat Kusal Mendis. Keshav Maharaj, 26 wickets this year, is, of course, one of the hosts' spinners, who can pose a great threat to Sri Lanka's middle order on Durban's traditionally spin-friendly surface. SA vs SL Match Preview- 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024

SA vs SL 1st Test Date and Venue

The SA vs SL 1st Test 2024 will be taking place on Wednesday (November 27) at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM IST and 9:30 AM local time.

Squads:

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma is back and will lead the South African side.

SA Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Kyle Verreynne.

Sri Lanka:

Dhananjaya De Silva will be leading the Sri Lankan team and will be keen to lead the team from the front.

SL Squad: Dhananjaya De Silva (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabhat Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha.

SA vs SL Key Battles

Kagiso Rabada vs. Kusal Mendis

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s ace pacer, has been in exceptional form, with 26 wickets in 2024 Tests. His ability to swing the ball at high speeds will be a major challenge for Sri Lanka’s batting line-up.

Kusal Mendis has been among the runs in both white-ball and red-ball formats. His technique against Rabada’s pace and bounce could set the tone for Sri Lanka’s innings.

Keshav Maharaj vs. Sri Lankan Middle Order

Spin often plays a vital role in Tests, and Keshav Maharaj will spearhead South Africa’s spin attack. With 26 wickets in 2024 Tests, Maharaj’s variations will test the patience and skills of Sri Lanka’s middle-order batters like Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis.

The ability of Sri Lanka’s batters to handle spin could decide their success in South African conditions.

Marco Jansen vs. Asitha Fernando

Both teams have promising all-rounders in Marco Jansen and Asitha Fernando. Jansen’s ability to contribute with both the ball and bat adds depth to South Africa’s line-up.

Meanwhile, Fernando, with 64 Test wickets, has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka and will aim to exploit the seam-friendly conditions in Durban.

SA vs SL Key Players

SA: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada are the key players for South Africa.

SL: Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, and Vishwa Fernando are the key players for Sri Lanka.

SA vs SL Weather And Pitch Report

The SA vs SL Test match at Kingsmead, Durban, on November 27, will come largely down to weather and pitch conditions. The latter traditionally offers support to pacers, particularly early on, with some swing and seam movement.

It may well be that the spinners arrive on the scene as the game wears on, as the surface tends to dry out.

The SA vs SL weather forecast is partly cloudy, with a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. It promises to be around 25°C, which will certainly provide good comfort, but rain can disrupt the game rhythm.

Conclusion

South Africa and Sri Lanka series is of utmost importance with both teams looking to make their first finals.

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