The first of two test matches between South Africa and Sri Lanka gets under way at Kingsmead, Durban on Wednesday and we take a look at the squads, the form and the all important betting.
This is a 2 match series with the second test taking place at St. Georges next week.
Let's start with the team news.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (capt), 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, Kyle Verreynne
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha
Recent Form
South Africa
The Proteas are in the mix to make it to the World Test Championship final but they have no margin for error in this series or the forthcoming tests against Pakistan.
A tour of Bangladesh last month saw South Africa win both tests, the first by 7 wickets and the second by an innings and 273 runs. In August they drew the first of 2 tests in the West Indies and then won the second by 40 runs.
South Africa took an understrength squad to New Zealand in February this year and they lost both test matches by margins of 281 runs and then 7 wickets.
A 2 match home series against India over the turn of the year was shared 1-1.
Sri Lanka:
In September Sri Lanka were 2-0 winners at home to New Zealand winning the first test by 63 runs and the second by an innings and 154 runs.
Just prior to that they went down 2-1 in England, losing the first 2 matches and gaining consolation in the third and final test.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent series came in South Africa in December 2021 and the Proteas won both matches by margins of an innings and 45 runs at Centurion and then by 10 wickets in Johannesburg
In February 2019 Sri Lanka pulled off an amazing 1 wicket win in the first test at this venue and claimed a series win with an 8 wicket victory at St. Georges.
Kingsmead, Durban
The most recent test match at Kingsmead came against Bangladesh in March 2022 and South Africa won by 220 runs. South Africa scored 367 and 204 and Bangladesh made 298 and 53.
For the weather forecast click here
The Betting - 1st Test Match
At the time of writing South Africa are 6/10 to win the match with the draw at 3/1 and Sri Lanka can be backed at around 7/2 with Sportingbet
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
The Proteas have named their strongest test match squad for some time although Sri Lanka are not to be underestimated.
Sri Lanka's top first innings run scorer market is wide open so if you can find the right man the odds of reward are pretty attractive and I'll take my chances with their skipper Dhananjaya de Silva.
Additional interest comes in the form of a Tristan Stubbs to score a 50 in the first innings.
Bets: 1st Innings Top Sri Lanka Batsman, Dhananjaya de Silva at 5/1 with Sportingbet
1st Innings, Tristan Stubbs? (yes) at 19/10 with BoyleSports
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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