Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first against the Proteas in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
On dry pitches, the safe decision is generally to bat first and Sri Lanka captain Suranga Lakmal did exactly that.
The toughest decision for Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis was whether to select two spinners or an extra batsman. The Proteas opted for the two-spinner option bringing in Tabraiz Shamsi who took five wickets in the warm-up match.
Sri Lanka opted for three spinners after bringing in Lakshan Sandakan to join Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.
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With Dale Steyn back in the side, the Proteas will look to take advantage of the grey overhead conditions to find early wickets and dig into Sri Lanka’s middle-order as soon as possible. With the older ball, the Proteas will be glad to have two reverse-swing specialists in the side in Steyn and Kagiso Rabada.
As expected Temba Bavuma has been moved up to the No 4 position, the position held by the now retired AB de Villiers.
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The last time the Proteas toured Sri Lanka they were victorious, winning the two-match series 1-0 in 2014. Their only victory came in Galle when they won by 153 runs. They will aim to repeat that.
Proteas
- Aiden Markram
- Dean Elgar
- Hashim Amla
- Temba Bavuma
- Faf du Plessis (c)
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Vernon Philander
- Kagiso Rabada
- Dale Steyn
- Keshav Maharaj
- Tabraiz Shamsi
Sri Lanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Danushka Gunathilaka
- Kusal Mendis
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Angelo Mathews
- Roshen Silva
- Niroshan Dickwella (wk)
- Rangana Herath
- Dilruwan Perera
- Suranga Lakmal (c)
- Lakshan Sandakan
Photo: Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto via Getty Images
