South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2019: 5 takeaways from the ODI series

After their splendid win in the Test series, fans and experts looked forward to a similarly spirited performance from the Sri Lankans in the ODI series against South Africa. Unfortunately, the one-dayers turned out to be completely one-sided with the Sri Lankan team not mounting a serious challenge in any of the games.

The 5-0 whitewash for the visitors seemed a distinct possibility after just two matches in the series. At that stage itself, it was clear that Lankans are completely devoid of the resources required for posing a serious challenge to the Proteas.

With the World Cup fast approaching, the Sri Lankan ODI team looks in shambles and are going to enter the big event as one of the least fancied sides in the tournament. Of course, as we learnt during the Test series, strange things happen in cricket and the Islanders may turn around their fortunes. But that is very unlikely.

The South Africans, on the other hand, are on a smooth ride towards the World Cup. But, despite this victory, there remain some serious questions about the team and some of its players. In order to win the World Cup and end their jinx in ICC tournaments, they would need to not just sustain the momentum from this series but improve their all-round efforts.

Now, let us look at the biggest takeaways from these five matches. They are going to profoundly affect the preparations of both the teams for the big event in England.

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#1. De Kock is Firing on All Cylinders

De Kock was superb but should have scored more than one hundred

Ever since Quinton de Kock got his maiden hundred in ODIs, he has looked like one of the most dazzling batsmen in international cricket. While he has gone through tough phases which even saw him left out of the team once, the left-hander has generally been a consistent performer.

In this series, he was in full flow. One hundred and three fifties in five matches is an incredible return, even if it came against a bowling attack that didn’t hold any terror. However, the southpaw should feel a little disappointed at having scored just one hundred in these matches.

This is where the one peculiar weakness in his ODI batting comes into view. He is too free-flowing at times with his stroke-play and can throw his wicket away in a burst of aggression. When it comes to talent and ability, the Proteas opener is not too far away from the likes of Virat Kohli. But unlike the Indian captain, de Kock allows a degree of recklessness to creep into his batting.

This is why he failed to get a hundred in the first two matches when they were up for the taking. The shot he played to a horrible delivery in the second ODI, when on 94, was atrocious. If he brings in a measure of calculation to his batting, no record or achievement is beyond his reach.

#2. Crisis in Sri Lankan Batting

Performance of Sri Lankan batsmen in this series was poor

While the Test series produced new batting stars for Sri Lanka, the ODIs were a complete and utter disaster. Nobody except Kusal Mendis showed any fight and even he got run out three times.

This is a full-blown crisis for the emerald islanders before the World Cup. As things stand, nobody except Mendis is certain to be in the top-7 of the playing XI for the upcoming event in England. There is no doubt that Angelo Mathews will have to be brought back. Same has to be done with Dinesh Chandimal.

The latter was dropped from the Test team and stripped of the captaincy after the Australia tour. His punishment was extended for the ODIs also. But with a batting line-up devoid of experience and currently without any young player ready to put his hand up, his services are badly needed.

Upul Tharanga, the veteran opener, had an extremely disappointing series and may well have to pay for it with his place in the team. Kusal Perera’s injury denied him the opportunity to follow his great exploit from the Tests into the ODIs. But he is certain to be brought back when fit.

Youngsters brought into the team failed to inspire any hope. Some of them, though, may well be given another chance if the selectors trust their talent. One man who may not be so lucky is Dhananjaya de Silva. He has not lived up to the expectations aroused by his match-saving hundred against India in 2017. In ODIs especially, he has been even more barren with runs.

The selectors will have to make some difficult decisions regarding the retaining and axing of players. Their job can’t be envied.

#3. Proteas’ Bowling Looks Good but Some Questions Remain

Lungi Ngidi made a great comeback to the South African team in this series

The efforts by South African Bowlers in this series were pretty decent. They never allowed Sri Lanka to even threaten putting up a big score. The combination of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi was very effective throughout the five matches.

What must have especially pleased the hosts is the great comeback by Ngidi. With Duanne Olivier withdrawing his services from South African cricket, the tall pacer became a crucial man for the team. By bowling as he did in this series, it was proved that he is a genuine talent and performer.

Imran Tahir continued his good work and seems to be heading into his last ODI event – he has announced his retirement after the World Cup – with his form fully intact. He displayed the full array of his skills in this series and plucked a good number of wickets. The leggie will be a major player for his team as the job of picking wickets in the middle overs rests with him. At the moment, he seems to do that as well as any other bowler in world cricket.

South Africa didn’t use Dale Steyn in this series except for the fourth ODI. This may be a smart strategy to keep him fresh for the World Cup. In the game that he did play, we didn’t see the Steyn of old. But he still managed good figures and with his quality and class, one can’t bet against him producing big performances in England.

Lastly, Anrich Nortje, the young pacer that everyone was excited to see, did well enough to protect his reputation and keep himself in the mix. Though he isn’t the finished product at the moment, the extra pace he provides might get him a place in World Cup squad.

Nortje, though, has to fight for his spot with the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius. The latter two lack his pace but have more experience. Besides, the former can also contribute important runs down the order. It will be an interesting decision to make for the South African selectors.

#4. Outline of South African Batting Line-up Clear

Faf du Plessis too had a good series

With Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis striking form and Rassie van der Dussen continuing his good run, the make-up of the South African batting line-up is largely decided for the World Cup. By scoring a good half-century in the final game, Aiden Markram has, almost certainly, booked his place in the squad also.

The likes of David Miller and JP Duminy are certain to be in the playing XI. So, there aren’t too many spots up for grabs. Since Hashim Amla is all set to return to the ODI squad, it seems that he is certain to open alongside de Kock in England.

The decline in Amla's form over the last couple of years has worried the South African cricket fraternity. However, he has been too good a player to be left out at this late stage. With the undeniable class possessed by the veteran, it won’t come as a surprise if he regains his form on the biggest stage.

So, de Kock, Amla, Markram, du Plessis, Duminy, Miller and van der Dussen are a certainty for the World Cup squad. With Proteas likely to opt for an all-rounder in the final XI, it may well be a toss-up between Markram and Dussen for the only spot available. However, if Amla doesn’t regain his form in the early matches, both may be retained and the experienced pro made to sit out.

But that is all in the future. At the moment, the batting line-up is settled and if it plays to its potential, it is second to none.

#5. Sri Lanka are lacking an X-factor in their bowling department

Lasith Malinga no longer seems the great bowler he used to be in ODIs

One of the reasons for Sri Lanka’s good record in ICC events over the years has been the presence of unorthodox bowlers in their line-up.

In 2007 World Cup, Malinga was taking the world by storm while four years later, the combination of him and Ajantha Mendis proved highly effective. On top of that, the likes of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan – bowlers of great quality – made the attack stronger.

But this time around, the Lankan bowling looks plain and, more importantly, insipid. Malinga, the most prominent member of the bowling group, looks a shadow of his former self. It is likely that having played cricket for a long time, he is no longer the unusual sight which he used to be.

This veteran of three World Cups isn’t using his famed yorkers these days, probably because they have become too common. The action has also lost its novelty. Malinga is now largely a line and length bowler with no special weapons.

Akila Danajaya is a promising spinner but as the world is teeming with ‘mystery’ tweakers, he can’t be expected to bamboozle the batsmen as Mendis did around a decade ago.

The other bowlers too haven’t shown anything to suggest that opposition batsmen would lose their sleep over them. They may be good but good is not good enough in big events like the World Cup.

In short, Sri Lanka is seriously lacking an X-factor in their bowling department. So, they are going into the big event with one of the weakest attacks around. Things don’t bode well for them.