South Africa announce two changes to their XI for SA vs SL 2024 2nd Test
The South African cricket team has announced their playing XI ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, beginning on December 5 at the St. George's Park in Gqeberha. The home side has carried out two changes to the XI from the 233-win in the series-opener in Durban.
With Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to a groin injury, Dane Paterson will accompany Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada in the XI. Paterson, who debuted in 2020 against England in Gqeberha, has played five Tests, but has managed only 12 wickets in those.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder will also miss the Test, but the Proteas has named a specialist batter in Ryan Rickelton to take his place. Rickelton made his maiden Test appearance in March 2022 and the keeper-batter has accumulated 224 runs in seven matches alongside a best of 42. The 28-year-old is likely to play in the lower middle-order.
1 Aiden Markram, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Ryan Rickelton, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Dane Paterson.
South Africa out to strengthen World Test Championship final hopes
Meanwhile, the Proteas surged to the second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final table after hammering the Lankans by 233 runs at Kingsmead in Durban. Performances from Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen were the nucleus of their win as the former hit 70 and 113 in Durban.
Jansen, the left-arm seamer, picked up seven wickets in Sri Lanka's first innings to consign them to a record-low of 42. With 516 to chase down in the fourth innings, the tourists failed to get anywhere near it.
In the process, they leapfrogged Australia in the table. The home side will also start as the favorites in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha.
South Africa also have two more Tests remaining in the cycle as Pakistan will visit them. The Proteas will host Pakistan for two Tests, beginning on December 26 at the Supersport Park in Centurion.