SA vs SL 1st Test: Kingsmead Stadium Durban Pitch Report

Kingsmead Stadium, Durban [Source: @odishabhaskar/X]Kingsmead Stadium, Durban [Source: @odishabhaskar/X]

On Wednesday, South Africa will cross swords against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series on home soil. Led by Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have a formidable squad, which is an amalgamation of experience and youth. 

While Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi will spearhead the South African top order, the likes of Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham and Kyle Verrynne will be crucial for the home team. Wiaan Mulder will play as their first-choice all-rounder, with Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee leading their fast bowling department. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will heavily rely on the dependable duo of Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne to succeed with the bat. Veteran cricketers Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews will spearhead their middle order alongside skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, with Kamindu Mendis and Asitha Fernando playing crucial roles for the visiting side. 

As the stage is set for a riveting battle, let's see how the surface at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban will behave throughout the contest. 

Kingsmead Stadium Durban Stats And Records In Tests

Criterion
Data
Matches Played46
Matches won batting first19
Matches won bowling first13
Average 1st innings score298
Average 2nd innings score260
Average 3rd innings score258
Average 4th innings score197


Kingsmead Stadium Pitch Report: Is it batting or bowling friendly?

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

Meanwhile, how the batters tackle the pitch's bounce 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.

Players To Watch Out For At Kingsmead Stadium Durban

Tristan Stubbs

  • The young South African batter is in sublime form of late. The stylish right-handed batter has showcased his incredible batting attributes across formats and will be South Africa's key batter in this match. 

Kamindu Mendis

  • Left-handed batter Kamindu Mendis has been exceptional for Sri Lanka in Test cricket. He oozed his class with the bat in the recently held England series and could be a headache for South Africa in this series. 

Kagiso Rabada

  • South Africa's premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is one of the finest exponents of red-ball bowling. The pacer has scalped 308 wickets in 119 Test innings, showcasing his remarkable prowess in the longest format.