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SA vs SL 2nd Test Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

Bhargav Dixit

The second South Africa-Sri Lanka Test match begins on December 5. [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/X]The second South Africa-Sri Lanka Test match begins on December 5. [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/X]

The second Test match of Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa 2024 will be played in Gqeberha tomorrow onwards. Apart from the fourth consecutive two-match Test series between these two teams, the match will hold play a pivotal role in deciding the positions on ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 points table.

SA vs SL 2nd Test: Match Details And Live Streaming

Information
Details
Date & TimeDecember 5, 02:00 PM (IST)
VenueSt. George's Park, Gqeberha
Broadcast & Live StreamingSports18 & JioCinema

SA vs SL 2nd Test Preview: WTC Points On Everyone’s Mind

With just over a dozen Tests remaining in the ongoing WTC cycle, which two teams will qualify to play the final is on everyone’s mind.

Currently placed at the second spot behind India, South Africa are guaranteed to partake in the final at the Lord’s next year should they beat Sri Lanka and win their remaining two home Tests against Pakistan. Even a loss at the St. George’s Park will push them towards a final considering certain other results go their way.

Sri Lanka, on the contrary, don’t have this much leeway. Other than the imminent contest, they are scheduled to host Australia for two Tests. However, qualification would be much easier for them if they ensure that this series ends in a draw. For the unversed, no South Africa-Sri Lanka Test series has ever ended in a draw. Additionally, barring 2006, Sri Lanka have never won two Tests in different SENA countries in a calendar year.

Having won their last Test at this stadium, Sri Lanka would want to take confidence from the victory which had come nearly six years ago. Unlike the home team, they will also enjoy the privilege of fielding a first-choice Playing XI.

The Proteas, meanwhile, need to make at least a couple of changes to their Playing XI owing to respective injuries to all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee. With no like-for-like replacement for the former, South Africa will have to settle for a shift in balance to their Playing XI.

SA vs SL 2nd Test: Gqeberha Pitch Report

Set to host a Test match after almost three years, it is needless to say that Gqeberha will offer a lot to the fast bowlers. That said, spinners are also expected to play a larger role primarily because of the wind which blows around the ground. As a result, the hosts could include a spin-bowling all-rounder in Senuran Muthusamy to replace Mulder.

Out of the 27 Tests which have generated a result the St. George’s Park, 14 have been won by the team batting first and 13 by teams chasing a total. Hence, toss wouldn’t hold much importance on Thursday.

SA vs SL 2nd Test: Key Players & Stats

  • Kusal Mendis needs 34 runs to become the fourth batter to score 1,000 Test runs in 2024. No other batter averages over 80 in this format this year.
  • For bowlers with a minimum of 25 Test wickets this year, Kagiso Rabada’s strike rate of 30.9 is only behind Jasprit Bumrah’s 30.
  • Third-highest wicket-taker in Gqeberha Tests, Keshav Maharaj also has three five-wicket hauls and two half-centuries here.
  • Among spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya’s economy rate of 3.23 is the lowest among the Top Five Test wicket-takers of 2024.

    SA vs SL 2nd Test: Probable Playing XI

    South Africa: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson / Kwena Maphaka

    Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karuanaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews,  Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando

    SA vs SL 2nd Test: Winner Prediction

    Ideally, South Africa should be able to whitewash Sri Lanka. But don’t expect another one-sided victory at a venue where they’ve lost two out of their last three Tests. Overall, South Africa have won 14 and lost 13 out of their 32 Tests in the city.