By Patrick Compton.
@GalloImages.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field in the first test against South Africa at an overcast Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.
The two-match series in Durban and Gqeberha mirrors the 2019 series which Sri Lanka won 2-0, becoming the first team from the Asian subcontinent to win a test series in South Africa.
This time around there’s plenty to play for, with both sides well placed to qualify for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in England in June next year. South Africa need to win all four tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan to ensure qualification although three wins could see them through if other results go their way.
Temba Bavuma is back as captain for the Proteas after recovering from an elbow injury sustained in October.
Opener Aiden Markram’s poor form continues as swing gets the best of him, driving the ball straight to first slip for 9 off Asitha Fernando.
Markram and De Zorzi are out in the middle in overcast conditions in Kingsmead.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt.), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando.