1st Test, Preview: Sri Lanka vs South Africa at Galle

July 11 (CRICKETNMORE) - The first of two Tests between Sri Lanka and South Africa will start in Galle on Thursday. 

Both teams come into the series on the back of impressive performances with the South Africa having demolished Australia 3-1 at home while the Sri Lankans draw the three-Test series in the West Indies 1-1.

If Steyn indeed plays in the first test, he will be looking to overhaul Shaun Pollock record of becoming the highest Test wicket-taker for South Africa. The 35-year-old is currently two wickets behind Pollock’s tally of 421 wickets.

With the pitches at home likely to favour the likes of Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera as well as Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and the part-timers, Sri Lanka will be hopeful of getting a good result.

Squads

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Suranga Lakmal, Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Rangana Herath, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Roshen Silva

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg