There will be no shortage of motivation for Gibson’s Proteas
DURBAN: South Africa are on familiar territory in Galle, and they are even in the unusual position of approaching the first of two Test matches against Sri Lanka as favourites. On the sub-continent, that is a rare thing, but it is a measure of the depth that exists within the two, contrasting cricketing cultures.
While South Africa have absorbed the loss of several frontline players, and managed to find a way to stay competitive, Sri Lanka have slowly deteriorated, as they have been unable to plug the gap left by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakarra.
Sure, the retirement of Test record-holder Muttiah Muralitharan was also a heavy one, but Rangana Herath and a host of other pretenders to the hallowed throne of mystery spin have played their part.
Where Sri Lanka have been found lacking is in the runs department.
Without meaty totals, even their decent bowling attack has not been able to make an impression. That is what they will have to address in Galle, if they are to return to Colombo with a fighting chance.
Of course, they could hardly have been confronted by a more formidable hurdle in their plight. South Africa, still less than a year under the guidance of Ottis Gibson, still feel like they have a point to prove.
Indeed, most of the bowling department are dealing with individual criteria that will give them no end of motivation. Dale Steyn just wants to complete a Test, at the same venue where he helped himself to a match analysis of 9 for 99 the last time he was in town.
Kagiso Rabada is returning from his first lay-off from injury, and he wants to remind those who may have forgotten that he remains the best bowler in the world. Vernon Philander made the headlines he was last in Galle, but he wants to be making those for all the right reasons this time.
Keshav Maharaj, meanwhile, has been waiting for a pitch that plays into his hands for a long time. Here, finally, he will have the opportunity to bowl extended spells, to plot the downfall of batsmen, and have men chirping around the bat. He will have the chance to take centre stage, and play a decisive role in the series.
Gibson has already mentioned that it is important for his men to play the right way. He wants a brand of cricket that makes things happen, rather than waiting around for a chance to walk on by.
“If we are going to win in these conditions we have to be positive and we have to try in most situations to take the positive option,” Gibson said after the warm-up match on the weekend.
“The way Sri Lanka play their cricket, when a batsman comes in they will have fielders close to the bat, which means there are scoring opportunities to be had. You have to be positive and confident enough in your game plan to take on those open spaces in the outfield,” he challenged his batsmen.
“If you are going to scratch around and get out, you might as well be positive and try and make some runs while you’re at the crease. That has always been my philosophy, and these conditions here don’t change my feeling on that.”
Certainly, his players are not short of motivation on this trip. Some are closing in on history, while others are making their way to a bright future in the game. Gibson himself is on a new path, one which he hopes will take him to heights even greater than those he has already scaled.
The last time the Proteas were in Galle, Hashim Amla started an all-too brief stint as captain. Now, four years on, this, too, is a new beginning. They will be hoping to start it on as promising a note as the last.
The first Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa starts on Thursday morning.