South Africa look to redeem prestige in one-dayers

COLOMBO: South Africa have a chance to make up for their Test series loss to Sri Lanka as they get ready for a series of five one-day internationals starting on Friday.

South Africa lost to Sri Lanka in a Test series for the first time as they went down tamely in the second and final match here last week, leaving captain Graeme Smith wondering what went wrong.

"We have a lot of rethinking to do after this match. Our players just did not perform in the field and seemed to lack hunger," said a disappointed Smith as the team suffered two batting debacles to go down 1-0.

They were bowled out for 189 in the first innings, their lowest Test score against Sri Lanka, and recorded an even lower total in the second innings when they were skittled out for 179.

Their return to international cricket after a more than two-month break from the game was not a memorable one even as Sri Lanka did a fine job to switch from one form of the game to the other with ease.

They salvaged a draw in the second match of a two-Test series in Australia in July, came back home to win the Asia Cup one-day tournament beating formidable India in the final before going into the Tests against South Africa.

"Adapting quickly from one form of the game to the other is something cricketers need to learn to live with and I'm happy that we have been doing a good job of it," Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said.

South Africa have won 18 of their 34 one-dayers against Sri Lanka, losing 14 with one tie and one no-result but their better win record may not be of any solace seeing their recent form as they lost 5-1 in New Zealand in March.

Sri Lanka have been on a roll and the loss of ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan because of a shoulder injury should not make a difference.

Muralitharan was diagnosed with a cyst that led to a fluid formation on some nerves which needed surgery and he was ruled out for this series as well as the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy in England next month.

"He is one of our best players but the team has been winning games even without him and the boys are confident for the series ahead," said Sri Lanka's Australian coach John Dyson.

Sri Lanka have added leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi and left-arm spinner Rangan Herath to their team in a bid to make easy their task of choosing Muralitharan's replacement for the Champions Trophy.

South Africa too announced a change in their squad after pace bowler Andre Nel was declared unfit with a back injury.

Nel will be replaced by seamer Charl Langeveldt, who is expected to join the team after the opening day-night fixture at the Premdasa Stadium.

The second match will also be held at the same venue on August 22 before the teams move to Dambulla for the next two matches on August 25 (day-night) and August 28.

The last match will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on August 31.

Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Rangan Herath, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Jean-Paul Duminy, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Martin van Jaarsveld, Charl Langeveldt.