Sri Lanka tour of South Africa (2024) - Discussion Thread

SL's innings lasted only 13.5 overs. Remarkable.

Maharaj didn't even get to bowl.
 
2024 will go down as one of the most staggering years in cricket.

When you think you've seen everything, something else crazy happens.

I couldn't imagine Zimbabwe, Ireland or Afghanistan getting bowled out in 13.5 overs, let alone one of the more established teams.
 
153.6 gerarld coetze fastest in the match
expresssssssssssss

second fastest kumara 143 thats bumrah pace.

even coetze 153 doesnt look as dangerous as bumrah's 140 even. what a stark contrast in quality.
goatrah
 
Not really. It's the pitches and this new kookaburra.

Seams around a lot . If people want runs, you need flatter pitches to start off.
I hear you but this year has been wild. As it stands, these are the average international Test runs per wicket this decade:

2020 - 31.23
2021 - 29.77
2022 - 32.30
2023 - 30.36
2024 - 27.23

Even these averages are inflated by Pakistani roads.
 
I guess this was just PR to make sure their stadiums avoid demerit points.


Btw, I don't mind these types of wickets at all. But you shouldn't be misrepresenting info publicly.
 
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Reminds me of the time we got bowled out for 49 in South Africa. Although that was a far less bowling-friendly pitch.
 
I guess this was just PR to make sure their stadiums avoid demerit points.

Btw, I don't mind these types of wickets at all. But you shouldn't be misrepresenting info publicly.
Seems like the person to blame for this wicket is a fellow called Wonderboy Khanyile.

First up, at Kingsmead, Durban's long-serving groundsman Wilson Ngobese will retire at the end of this year and has been handing over the reins to his successor Wonderboy Khanyile.
 
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Seems like the person to blame for this wicket is a fellow called Wonderboy Khanyile.
Haha but wouldn't Wilson Ngobese be responsible for this? Since he is supposed to retire by the end of the year? I guess this is his parting gift for Sri Lanka
 
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SL are all-out for 42.

Jansen gets a 7-fer.

South Africa are leading by 149 runs.
Shortest completed innings in Tests (by balls)

TS0bTRb.png
 
Reminds me of the time we got bowled out for 49 in South Africa. Although that was a far less bowling-friendly pitch.

It's the seam movement. 8 of SL's dismissals were deliveries seaming over 0.75 degrees at high pace and from high release points of their bowlers.

They are a ridiculously tough attack to face on seaming pitches where they can outbowl anyone.
 
It's the seam movement. 8 of SL's dismissals were deliveries seaming over 0.75 degrees at high pace and from high release points of their bowlers.

They are a ridiculously tough attack to face on seaming pitches where they can outbowl anyone.
Didn't watch the innings but that adds up. Must be a nightmare to face Jansen on this pitch.
 
0.75 degrees of seam movement is when batting averages crash

Saffer innings 1st 10 overs

55 % of deliveries seamed big at an average pace of 131 kph

SL innings 1st 10 overs

71.8 % seamed big at an average pace of 136.6 kph

Taller, quicker Saffer bowlers extracting greater seam movement was the difference
 
Didn't watch the innings but that adds up. Must be a nightmare to face Jansen on this pitch.
SA was roleld over for 55 recently by Siraj. They deliberately offer these pitches to visiting Asian sides. Sometimes it backfires. Most of the time it works for them. But it results in very short Tests.
 
SA was roleld over for 55 recently by Siraj. They deliberately offer these pitches to visiting Asian sides. Sometimes it backfires. Most of the time it works for them. But it results in very short Tests.
they would be stupid to offer this to india. india would kill them like they did in test 2 of sa tour.

but yea against crap teams like pakistan bdesh etc it would work

i want SA to try these out vs sen teams too. i am positive they can beat any team on such pitches despite being a lottery. india would cause them the most problems on such pitches though
 
SA was roleld over for 55 recently by Siraj. They deliberately offer these pitches to visiting Asian sides. Sometimes it backfires. Most of the time it works for them. But it results in very short Tests.
Yeah I know. I don't get why they are misrepresenting their intentions though.

 
they would be stupid to offer this to india. india would kill them like they did in test 2 of sa tour.

but yea against crap teams like pakistan bdesh etc it would work

i want SA to try these out vs sen teams too. i am positive they can beat any team on such pitches despite being a lottery. india would cause them the most problems on such pitches though
Well India has yet to win a series in South Africa so I wouldn't be so confident just yet.

They did this to Australia when they bowled them out for 47 some years ago. I think it was 2011 under the captaincy of Clarke.
 
Well India has yet to win a series in South Africa so I wouldn't be so confident just yet.

They did this to Australia when they bowled them out for 47 some years ago. I think it was 2011 under the captaincy of Clarke.
indian bowling is world class but batting is trash.
 
they would be stupid to offer this to india. india would kill them like they did in test 2 of sa tour.

but yea against crap teams like pakistan bdesh etc it would work

i want SA to try these out vs sen teams too. i am positive they can beat any team on such pitches despite being a lottery. india would cause them the most problems on such pitches though

LOL. South African pitches are often like this (India or no India). India are yet to win a series in South Africa.
 
LOL. South African pitches are often like this (India or no India). India are yet to win a series in South Africa.
not always. its 50 50
india usually win when pitches are like these. they struggle when pitches are flatter cause our batsmen cant bat
 
Well India has yet to win a series in South Africa so I wouldn't be so confident just yet.

They did this to Australia when they bowled them out for 47 some years ago. I think it was 2011 under the captaincy of Clarke.
Bro what are pak chances in sa tests hopefully its better than what sri lanka are doing there i think pak got reasonably decent test batting whats your take on pak chances with noman and sajid and ayub and kamran pak looks good.
 
It all comes down to when you bat. There were a few pitches resembling NZ pitch nature. Basically first day will be very difficult to bat. Then batting gets easier. If your team doesn't do well in third innings you are screwed.
 
Indian bowling is world class.
Elgar is a good player.
He mutilated fodder pakistan attacks with ease. Go crawl back to your cave.
Actually that particular match pitch got better and better to bat on. Once Indian batting let us down unable to cross 250 if i am right in either innings.
 
Outside of Asia, Indian Test bowling attack is all about Bumrah.

Without Bumrah, the attack becomes quite benign.
This is what happens when you talk too much out of the rear.

Bumrah shami ishant umesh till 2022 was the best attack by far from 2015

Only now in transition.

Bumrah shami will come back
New kid harshit and then there is more. Siraj in sena conditions is better than any current pakistani bowler. Not to mention there is prasidh, kuldeep Sen and co waiting in the wings.
 
Outside of Asia, Indian Test bowling attack is all about Bumrah.

Without Bumrah, the attack becomes quite benign.
Without mcg Australia attack is impotent back in 2000 to 2005 era. That's why the lost to England and India away from home.

Lol best player not available will make attack weak. It's not rocket science.
 
Without mcg Australia attack is impotent back in 2000 to 2005 era. That's why the lost to England and India away from home.

Lol best player not available will make attack weak. It's not rocket science.
Why dont you just admit every team have their great periods pak had it now india is having bangladesh is yet to have that period.
 
Last 10 years bowling performance by various Touring teams in South Africa


Overall figures
TeamPlayersSpanMatInnsOversMdnsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveAscendingEconSR510
India272018-20248731045.520331981327/618/8624.223.0547.570
England222015-20208871405.434039531386/179/10028.642.8161.150
Pakistan142018-2019329402.5731381454/626/9930.683.4253.700
New Zealand112016-2016215288.462853255/866/10434.122.9569.210
Australia152018-2018443737.51402374685/349/10934.913.2165.120
Sri Lanka232016-2021767957.31193471996/1228/13335.063.6258.040
Zimbabwe112017-20171678.3630583/573/5738.123.8858.800
West Indies212014-2023548730.21072545615/477/11141.723.4871.820
Bangladesh212017-2022442693.1932467456/1359/20254.823.5592.410
 
Bro what are pak chances in sa tests hopefully its better than what sri lanka are doing there i think pak got reasonably decent test batting whats your take on pak chances with noman and sajid and ayub and kamran pak looks good.
I don't think they have much of a chance. Even if bowlers bowl well, batters will most likely blow it.

Best case scenario is getting a lottery pitch like this, bowl South Africa really cheaply and get a sizeable lead.
 
I don't think they have much of a chance. Even if bowlers bowl well, batters will most likely blow it.

Best case scenario is getting a lottery pitch like this, bowl South Africa really cheaply and get a sizeable lead.
Ya this time pak actually has decent batting i am confident on pak chances bro they just need to hold their catches.
 
Last 10 years bowling performance by various Touring teams in South Africa


Overall figures
TeamPlayersSpanMatInnsOversMdnsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveAscendingEconSR510
India272018-20248731045.520331981327/618/8624.223.0547.570
England222015-20208871405.434039531386/179/10028.642.8161.150
Pakistan142018-2019329402.5731381454/626/9930.683.4253.700
New Zealand112016-2016215288.462853255/866/10434.122.9569.210
Australia152018-2018443737.51402374685/349/10934.913.2165.120
Sri Lanka232016-2021767957.31193471996/1228/13335.063.6258.040
Zimbabwe112017-20171678.3630583/573/5738.123.8858.800
West Indies212014-2023548730.21072545615/477/11141.723.4871.820
Bangladesh212017-2022442693.1932467456/1359/20254.823.5592.410
England - one team that always does well in South Africa. I actually can't remember the last time they even lost a series in South Africa.
 
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test

SL 42
RSA 191 & 132/3 (40)

Day 2: Stumps - South Africa lead by 281 runs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jansen special consigns Sri Lanka to record-low total

After an encouraging bowling performance, Sri Lanka floundered with the bat and slipped to their lowest-ever Test total.

Marco Jansen was the destroyer with the ball, securing figures of 7/13 from under seven overs.

South Africa began the day placed at 80/4, which they had gotten to on a rain-hit day 1. They eventually folded for 191 as Sri Lanka bowlers kept getting the breakthroughs.

In response, Sri Lanka's batting crumbled in Durban as they were skittled out for just 42 in the first innings. This was their lowest-ever score in Tests.

Their total of 42 ranks as the joint 9th-lowest score in Test cricket history. It is also the third-lowest total in the 21st century, behind India's 36 against Australia in 2020 and Ireland's 38 against England in 2019.

Kamindu Mendis was Sri Lanka's top scorer with 13, as Marco Jansen claimed career-best figures of 7 for 13. Coetzee chipped in with two wickets, while Rabada took one, as South Africa's pace attack dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup in just 13.5 overs.

With crucial WTC points on the line, Sri Lanka need to mount a significant fightback in the final two innings of the Test.

The island nation are placed in the third place on the WTC Standings with a point percentage of 55.56, while hosts South Africa are also in the run, sitting in fifth place with a points percentage of 54.17.

This innings marked Sri Lanka's worst performance with the bat by a wide margin.

Their previous lowest total in Durban was 71, set against Pakistan in Kandy back in 1994.

It is also the lowest total ever against South Africa, surpassing New Zealand's 45 in Cape Town in 2013.

1732810240616.png

Joy for Prabath Jayasuriya​

There was some joy for Sri Lanka as left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya became the second-fastest player to reach 100 Test wickets.

He took merely 17 games to reach this feat. He got to the landmark when he dismissed Tony de Zorzi in the 12th over the third innings of the game. With this, he equals Australia's Charlie Turner and Clarrie Grimmett, England's Sydney Barnes, and Pakistan's Yasir Shah.

The list is led by England's legendary George Lohmann, who achieved the feat in merely 16 Tests.

1732810266126.png

 
Ya this time pak actually has decent batting i am confident on pak chances bro they just need to hold their catches.
Will be heavily dependant on how Babar and Rizwan do. They are the only two Pak batters who have shown some kind of spine in SENA in the past. Hopefully Babar finds his form again in this series. The last tour of South Africa was a breakthrough tour for him as a test batter.
 
England - one team that always does well in South Africa. I actually can't remember the last time they even lost a series in South Africa.
After playing against swinging DUkes it is not that hard to play swinging Kookaburra. Also the surfaces they offer varies from opposition to opposition. For eample India never gets to play at Durban on purpose as it aids spinners. Not a single test played by India there in the last 11 years.
 
After playing against swinging DUkes it is not that hard to play swinging Kookaburra. Also the surfaces they offer varies from opposition to opposition. For eample India never gets to play at Durban on purpose as it aids spinners. Not a single test played by India there in the last 11 years.
Still winning every series in South Africa that they've played since the 2000s is an impressive achievement. They've won every series in England too barring the 2008 one.

New Zealand also tend to do well in seam friendly conditions but they have struggled in South Africa.
 
Still winning every series in South Africa that they've played since the 2000s is an impressive achievement. They've won every series in England too barring the 2008 one.

New Zealand also tend to do well in seam friendly conditions but they have struggled in South Africa.
SA pitches have high clay content. Clay, Silt, Sand. Generally pitches are made up of this. In SA pitches silt content is very high. Also each local soil has unique characteristics. When you say clay not all of them have similar nature. In West Indies there are 5 different types of clays. what SA does is the adjust the mixture of these contents depending on the opposition anddo what we call "tailoring of" pitches. This is why you see batting paradises in T20/ODI games and unplayable surfaces in Tests.
 
SA pitches have high clay content. Clay, Silt, Sand. Generally pitches are made up of this. In SA pitches silt content is very high. Also each local soil has unique characteristics. When you say clay not all of them have similar nature. In West Indies there are 5 different types of clays. what SA does is the adjust the mixture of these contents depending on the opposition anddo what we call "tailoring of" pitches. This is why you see batting paradises in T20/ODI games and unplayable surfaces in Tests.
That's some 5-D chess level thinking. Meanwhile Pakistan just used industrial fans and rakes to get the desired result lol.
 
That's some 5-D chess level thinking. Meanwhile Pakistan just used industrial fans and rakes to get the desired result lol.
It is true they do that. Not thinking lol This was shared long back. SA takes the fullest advantage of their home conditions. It doesn't work with other SENA countries as they have somewhat similar pitches. They ahve the right to make pitches however they want. But they should try to ensure match lasts more than 2 or 3 days.
 
I don' think this pitch is anywhere near as bad as the pitch that India got at Newlands earlier this year. Even the one that India got in Jo'burg on the tour before that. Ironically enough, South Africa lost both the tests on the more dangerous surfaces but won the ones on the more balanced ones.
 
I don' think this pitch is anywhere near as bad as the pitch that India got at Newlands earlier this year. Even the one that India got in Jo'burg on the tour before that. Ironically enough, South Africa lost both the tests on the more dangerous surfaces but won the ones on the more balanced ones.
Those are lottery pitches. When you push the envelope too far it backfires. Every time INdia did it backfired and they lost.
 
He’s speaking from his experience.

Just like Sri Lanka was all out for 42 in the first innings of the first Test, he is right in what he’s saying.


This should be read as "SA curators are the best in producing difficult wickets to bat on". Because this is not the case in ODI or T20. India smashed 283 runs in 20 overs. They deliberately prepare pitches that way. Others don't push it too far. Australia did that against SA. Remember. At the Gabba match was over in 1.5 days or something. Chasing 35 Australia lost 4 wickets in the 4th innings. Others can do that. But they don't do as much as SA.
 
It is true they do that. Not thinking lol This was shared long back. SA takes the fullest advantage of their home conditions. It doesn't work with other SENA countries as they have somewhat similar pitches. They ahve the right to make pitches however they want. But they should try to ensure match lasts more than 2 or 3 days.
Those are lottery pitches. When you push the envelope too far it backfires. Every time INdia did it backfired and they lost.
I actually take exception to them producing those types of pitches. Any pitch where the batter has a serious risk of getting hurt is going too far. And even in that Jo'burg test it was one of their own batters Dean Elgar that copped the worst blows in the fourth innings lol. It's one thing to produce pitches that suit your strengths, its another thing to produce straight-up dangerous surfaces. It's no wonder that so many of their pitches have racked up demerit points over the years.

This is not a lottery pitch though. Watching the highlights there was alot of poor shot selection by the Sri Lankan batters aswell.
 
He’s speaking from his experience.

Just like Sri Lanka was all out for 42 in the first innings of the first Test, he is right in what he’s saying.

I think South Africa is definitely the toughest place for openers to bat. Until a few years ago, openers had the lowest batting average in South Africa among all the countries. Not sure if the numbers support the case for other batters too but I would think so.
 
Will be heavily dependant on how Babar and Rizwan do. They are the only two Pak batters who have shown some kind of spine in SENA in the past. Hopefully Babar finds his form again in this series. The last tour of South Africa was a breakthrough tour for him as a test batter.
Bro will kg play in sa series he should play he is in good touch?
 
That's horrendous especially after their good performance n England


Jansen could equally destroy Pakistan
 
Bro will kg play in sa series he should play he is in good touch?
He doesn't seem like a particularly good player against pace and bounce. If I want to play a batter with such obvious flaws in moving conditions I would go with Saud Shakeel.
 
He doesn't seem like a particularly good player against pace and bounce. If I want to play a batter with such obvious flaws in moving conditions I would go with Saud Shakeel.
Bro does saud has a game to succeed in sa dont get me wrong he is great in spinning conditions can he be handful is moving conditions?
 
Bro does saud has a game to succeed in sa dont get me wrong he is great in spinning conditions can he be handful is moving conditions?
I don't know but I would rather give him a chance and see. Because I think he's one of the best future prospects for us who has done really well in test cricket so far. He is more deserving of that opportunity than Kamran.
 
I don't know but I would rather give him a chance and see. Because I think he's one of the best future prospects for us who has done really well in test cricket so far. He is more deserving of that opportunity than Kamran.
Ya thats right saud for now has earned that spot in 11.
 
Most of the Sri Lankan batsmen seem to think they were on a fishing trip then playing cricket. Some very poor and atrocious shots. You could tell none of them fancied sticking it out in middle
 
Pitch is not the same it was on day 1 but at 281/3 not much left for SL in this game even with SAF 1 bowler down . Btw , why did Mulder bat 1 drop yesterday with a broken index finger in right hand ?
 
South Africa lead by 291 runs now

I think Sri Lanka threw the game away with their pathetic batting in the 1st inning.
 
DURBAN: Proteas Men’s all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has been ruled out of the remainder of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a fractured right middle finger.

The 26-year-old sustained the injury after being struck on the lower hand while batting during South Africa’s first innings on day two of the first Test in Durban. Subsequent x-rays revealed the extent of the injury.

Dafabet Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke has been named as Mulder’s replacement for the second Test, which will take place at Dafabet St George’s Park in Gqeberha from 05 – 09 December.

Proteas Test squad against Sri Lanka

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), David Bedingham (World Sports Betting Western Province), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Marco Jansen (Renault North West Dragons), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors), Dane Paterson (World Sports Betting Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), and Kyle Verreynne (World Sports Betting Western Province).
 
Superb batting from Bavuma and stubbs. Practically dragged Sri Lanka out of the game here.

South Africa lead by 357 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
 
@Nikhil_cric Think we should cut this South African batting line-up some slack. Despite their inexperience they have done well, all things considered. Bangladesh and West Indies aren't exactly difficult tours but getting the job done is important. And now they are in the running for a WTC final spot barring a major misstep. Had they not been forced to prioritize the SA20 over test cricket, I think we could have seen a different result in New Zealand too.
 
@Nikhil_cric Think we should cut this South African batting line-up some slack. Despite their inexperience they have done well, all things considered. Bangladesh and West Indies aren't exactly difficult tours but getting the job done is important. And now they are in the running for a WTC final spot barring a major misstep. Had they not been forced to prioritize the SA20 over test cricket, I think we could have seen a different result in New Zealand too.

Yeah. I saw the underlying ball tracking data for the first 2 innings' of this Test and conditions were as tough as they could get.

Still think the difference is the bowling. It's the same way Saffers beat us in 2021/22.

They blasted SL out and Lankans haven't recovered, yet.
 
Markram is averaging even less than Bavuma in tests and for quite a while.

Stubbs is turning out to be the all format star SA needed.
De Villiers-esque in the sense he can defend for a long time and attack like a lower order finisher.
 
END OF INNS: South Africa 366/5d (100.4 ov, lead by 515, 2nd inns) v Sri Lanka
 
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