Tour Diary – Sri Lanka in South Africa, Week 2

24 February

TOURISTS' CUP OF VICTORY TEA RUNNETH OVER

It's impossible to think that the magnitude of what Sri Lanka's touring squad has achieved would have truly sunk in just yet.

The popular opinion was that they had done the proper celebrating in Durban, because of the pure shock of that result.

What happened in Port Elizabeth was hardly a formality, but it was a lot less dramatic. There were several heroes, and the South African capitulation was as much a part of the story as what wonderful narratives Sri Lanka played out.

On trips like this, there is nothing better than being in that team environment. Travelling across a country can become tedious when you're losing, but winners breeze into airports with a smile and a sense of belonging.

Sri Lanka are in that place now, as they make the happy switch from tests to the very important one-day internationals.

They will float back up north, for a warm-up game, before the 50-over stuff begins on Sunday at the Bullring.

The tourists may well feel that this is as good a time as any to play South Africa in any format, and look to keep the pressure firmly on.

It must be remembered that they have shown signs of life in white-ball cricket this summer, even as they struggled in the test arena.

They had some memorable ODI games in New Zealand, and some of their players come into their own in the limited-overs stuff.

Theirs is truly an envious position to be in, and they may well go on and play pressure free cricket. Whatever happens next, this trip to South Africa has been an unprecedented success.

What's more, their test series upset has probably forced South Africa to look at themselves in a different manner.

Nothing lasts forever, and no team has a right to win every series they play on home soil. Cricket simply doesn't work like that, and those who rest on their laurels soon get caught up by the rest.

South Africa were caught out by a side they would have not expected to trouble them so, with all things happening to Sri Lanka considered.

Now, as ever, we have all been reminded about how perfect a distraction cricket can be from every day life - especially for a team on the road and united against so many problems.

When Hashim Amla famously won his first test as captain, in Galle, he marked the occasion with a cup of tea. We can almost be sure that Sri Lanka, who are purveyors of the world's finest teas, toasted their bit of history with something just as apt.

Bring on the one-dayers!

22 February

PROTEAS PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR BATTING WOES

What an extraordinary day of test cricket at St George's Park.

So many wickets and reputations tumbling... it is all rather much too much to fathom. What has happened to the days of slow test matches that burst into life in the latter stages?

South Africans have now become accustomed to watching games on the fast forward mode. That is all well and good when the shoe is on the right boot, but watching the Proteas being picked apart by Sri Lanka has been an eye opener.

The Proteas will be the first to admit that they have simply not been good enough, especially with bat in hand. You don't have a prayer without partnerships in the ultimate format of the game.

You can get away with cameos in limited overs games, but a test is won by individuals sticking together for the long haul.

Quite how South Africa have got themselves into this hole is hard too fathom. Half of their top order is desperately out of form, and the others are erratic.

They have all lost form at the worst possible moment, and being bowled out for 128 in Port Elizabeth was a particular low point.

There will have to be consequences, even if the next test is only after the World Cup.

The Test Championship is supposed to start beyond July, and South Africa visit India as their first assignment.

Virat Kohli and his men will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing the Proteas in this form. On the sub-continent, it is your batting that determines how much you enjoy your stay there.

Currently, South Africa do not have a price. They will have to do some serious soul searching through the winter, because their standing as a proud test nation is weighted significantly by the runs they accumulate around the world.

Take that away, as they have in this series with Sri Lanka, and even the best attack in the world will struggle to keep the team afloat.

Runs, much like rands, are the currency. And, sadly, in the current Proteas lot, the bank balance is running on empty.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, cannot believe their luck. India, Australia and Pakistan all came before them, and had their colours lowered by South Africa.

Now, little, brittle Sri Lanka have risen to be large and in charge of a series that no one gave them a chance to win.

Incredibly, the going price for the tourists to win the second test was 8/1, before a ball was bowled.

Even after their heroics of Durban.

Even with the Proteas struggling for runs.

Well, the outsiders are now on the inside lane, and they can see the finish line.

Bloody cricket....

21 February

SRI LANKA CAN'T BELIEVE THEIR LUCK

Sri Lanka will never have a better chance to make test history in South Africa. As if Durban was not enough of a dream, they have enjoyed another cracking first day in Port Elizabeth, ripping through the Proteas top-order.

There is an old adage that goes, you should never judge conditions or totals until both teams have batted. But South Africa themselves would agree that a smidgen over 200 was not the number they had in mind when Faf du Plessis won the toss and chose to bat. It would have been 350 plus, surely.

Scoreboard pressure and all that.

Now, however, the scoreboard pressure is squarely on the shoulders of the home team's bowlers, who know that they must respond with a big performance.

They need to dig South Africa out of the hole their batsmen put them in. That is, the batsmen bar the incredible Quinton de Kock. How the summer might have turned out, if De Kock had also experienced the famine that has cut a swathe through the top-order, is beyond me.

The manner in which he plays, and the commitment he executes every shot with is a breath of fresh air. No matter the situation, his cricketing DNA seems to compel him to be positive.

It's a great thing, and South African cricket would do well to encourage that forever.

De Kock is a gem, and is also his team's most feared player. More and more, opposition attacks are finding that the job is not nearly over if Quinny is still at the crease.

Around him, though, there are growing concerns. The form of Hashim Amla is a headache that only he can remedy.The whispers about a possible retirement are getting louder, but only Amla can address those. Through his actions, or through his words.

There was a time when Amla's bat did all his talking. There was certainty, and structure and incredible consistency.Nothing lasts forever in sport, of course. If this is the end, you would hope that Amla is granted the send-off he deserves.

He has been terrific for the Proteas, seeing them through a period of losing greats, becoming a great in his own right, and then helping the next generation settle at the top of the order.

If he really is to go off into the sunset, his team and his country would want nothing less than one, final flash of brilliance, to save them from a parlour situation.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are wearing the look of a team that can't quite believe their fortune. They have now beaten South Africa in three consecutive test matches, and have a strong chance of a fourth in Port Elizabeth.

Who said cricket is predictable?

18 February

SRI LANKA SORCERY IS FOOD TO TEST CRICKET'S SOUL

How utterly brilliant was that! How utterly, ridiculously brilliant!

To see Kusal Perera, standing in the middle of Kingsmead, his arms triumphantly high in the air, was to witness one of 2019's sporting images of the year.

His 153 not out, to seal a remarkable, one-wicket win over a startled South Africa, was out of this world.

He kept on swinging, and he kept on connecting. It might be a long, long time until we see anything like it.

Kudos, too, to his lower-order accomplices, especially Vishwa Fernando at number 11. Cricket's enduring attraction is that it always requires teamwork for someone to win.

As wonderfully as Perera batted, we wouldn't be talking about him if Fernando wasn't surviving on the other end.

Or if the left-armer hadn't taken eight wickets with the ball, to give Sri Lanka a sniff. You need a mate. You need someone to encourage you and support you, even if you're in the midst of the greatest day of your career.

The numbers from the match indicate that South Africa were supposed to walk off with a victory.

But, occasionally, sport defies logic. It creates a narrative completely out of context, and reminds us why we love it, anyway.

If South Africa had won, as expected, there would be little or no anticipation for the test in Port Elizabeth this week.

A few of the Proteas might have flown down and played a round or two of golf at St Francis, perhaps. Because every thing was under control.

Not now, however.

This second test has taken on a completely new level of importance. South Africa are playing for their very proud record of having never lost to a sub-continent side at home.

Not in a series, anyway.

That is testimony to how hard it is to come here and play, because we have seen some very good sides from India and Pakistan come here in the past.

To think that an unfancied, inexperienced, and travel weary Sri Lankan outfit has the best shot at that record is rather incredible.

It just shows once more now unpredictable the game can be, especially when played on surfaces that gave a little something for everyone.

There was no pace in the Durban wicket, but there was seam, spin and runs to be made.

It was a refreshing change from seeing balls flying past ears all summer, and South Africa would admit that their batsmen could have done a lot better - especially in the second innings.

In their defence, though, no one could have possibly imagined what happened next!

No sooner had we been told by the powers that be that cricket is dead, then the game served up the West Indian series triumph over England.

And now this.

If this is what test cricket looks like on its deathbed, can you even imagine what it will be like during The Ashes, or later in the year, when South Africa visit India, and then host England?

Long live the ultimate format!

Week 1