Spinner Keshav Maharaj is understandably eager to see South Africa avenge last year’s Test series defeat to Sri Lanka.

The Proteas suffered a two-nil whitewash to Sri Lanka in Galle and Colombo in July 2018 – and will meet them for two more Tests in Durban and Port Elizabeth this month.

‘Whichever team comes here, we’re pretty much going to try dominate them. Especially Sri Lanka, who were really dominant against us in Sri Lanka. Now they are in our conditions, and hopefully we can put in a dominant display in the two Tests,’ said Maharaj.

‘Every series you play you want to be dominant and whitewash the opposition, for want of a better word. Playing here, this should be our fortress. When people come here they should be on the back foot when they do take the field. But we’re taking nothing for granted, whoever our opponents are.’

Maharaj was not selected for January’s second and third Tests against Pakistan in Cape Town and Johannesburg, but will likely be recalled for the spin-friendly conditions at Kingsmead and St George’s Park.

‘At Kingsmead it’s not your swing and fast bowling wicket that we were used to 10 or 15 years ago. The wicket will wear down and slow down significantly, I would say,’ he added.

‘I think it’s just a patience game at Kingsmead now. It’s a little bit slower than expected. But with the sun about, it may make the wicket harden up and get a little bit quicker than we’re used to as well.’

Photo: Gallo