The Proteas won the toss and will bowl first in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Bullring, KHALID MOHIDIN reports. 

The Proteas made some interesting choices when selecting their squad for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka. They left out Hashim Amla and Heinrich Klaasen, showing trust in the inform Lions pair of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen.

Both Klaasen and Amla were sent back to their respective franchises but failed to impress in the clash between the Cobras and the Titans. JP Duminy was also given a chance to regain fitness by playing for his franchise.

Another player who was not named in the squad was Aiden Markram, but he responded to this with a mammoth 169 against the Cobras batting at No 5 and putting his name back in the discussion for a World Cup spot.

With Duanne Olivier’s Kolpak signing taking everyone by surprise, the Proteas selected another much talked about youngster in the squad –  Anrich Nortje.

The 25-year-old was given his opportunity ahead of Dale Steyn, while Lungi Ngidi comes back after a lengthy injury lay-off. Andile Phehlukwayo was injured at practice on Saturday but the Proteas stuck with the two all-rounders as Dwaine Pretorius and Wiaan Mulder start. Reeza Hendricks will open the batting.

It’s a new-look Sri Lanka side compared to the Test series. The visitors selected two spinners with, Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan getting a start.

Proteas
1) Reeza Hendricks
2) Quinton de Kock (wk)
3) Rassie van der Dussen
4) Faf du Plessis (c)
5) David Miller
6) Wiaan Mulder
7) Dwaine Pretorius
8) Kagiso Rabada
9) Anrich Nortje
10) Imran Tahir
11) Lungi Ngidi

Sri Lanka
1) Niroshan Dickwella (wk)
2) Upul Tharanga
3) Dhananjaya de Silva
4) Kusal Mendis
5) Oshada Fernando
6) Kusal Perera
7) Thisara Perera
8) Akila Dananjaya
9) Lasith Malinga (c)
10) Vishwa Fernando
11) Lakshan Sandakan

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images