No excuses if South Africa cannot win

The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in South Africa, Twenty20 cricket was not a recognised format of the game, even at domestic level, the ICC rankings had only just come into being and Gary Kirsten was part of South Africa's top order. That was nine years ago, in the summer of 2002.

Then, Sri Lanka were expected to lose the series. When they showed signs of tenacity in the second Test and Dilhara Fernando almost bowled them to victory, they were heralded. Pat Symcox, who had criticised Sri Lanka's Test performances before, wrote on ESPNcricinfo that Sri Lanka had proved their Test credentials.

This time, things are vastly different, but also, curiously, the same.

Sri Lanka's underdog tag is not an exaggeration. They have not won a Test match since July last year, when they beat India at home. Their last away win came 19 months before that, in Chittagong. The batting, formidable on paper, has floundered in the middle, and their bowling has been beset by injuries. Add to that the fact they have never won a Test in South Africa and it's clear that the visitors will need to punch above their weight - quite hard - to compete here.

But South Africa also have something to prove. They have not won a Test series in 18 months, with their last three being drawn. Although they are still ranked third in the ICC Test rankings, South Africa will want to demonstrate that they are not simply a competitive outfit but convincing winners too.

There would be no better place to do that than at home, where they last won a series three years ago, against Bangladesh. In conditions that are created to favour them, South Africa will have nowhere to hide if they do not capitalise this time. For the last two seasons, the pace and bounce in the pitches has worked as a double-edged sword, assisting both the hosts' quicks and the opposition's. With Sri Lanka struggling in the pace department, it is expected that the local surfaces will finally be a clear advantage for the local team, although South Africa have been cautious not to announce their desire to create havoc on green tops as loudly as they did against India last season.

Big talk like that has not translated into big action for South Africa in the recent past. Their inability to close out series and turn advantages into results is a growing concern. Kumar Sangakkara quietly reminded South Africa that they have not "even come close" to beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka; their most-recent trip there yielded a 2-0 thrashing. With the number of potential matchwinners in their squad - from Hashim Amla to Dale Steyn - the general feeling surrounding the South Africa team is that they need to start winning more matches.

They have kept experimentation to a minimum in the squad, making it clear that it is consolidation they are after. From a batting perspective, two areas will come under the microscope - the opening partnership and the No. 6 position. Alviro Petersen is back in the squad and may return to partner Graeme Smith, which will leave Jacques Rudolph to compete with Ashwell Prince for a middle-order spot.

Prince faces pressure from within the squad and outside of it, where Dean Elgar is waiting for his first national call-up. Prince will have to find the balance between protecting the tail and either building on the top order's platform or rescuing the team from trouble. With tours of New Zealand, England and Australia to come, the No. 6 role is a pivotal one that South Africa will need nailed down, and Prince has this opportunity to prove that he is the man to fill it in the next 12 months.

South Africa's bowling has a settled look, with Vernon Philander establishing himself as the best candidate for the third fast bowler's role. Jacques Kallis will have to play a containing role with the ball, and will have to be carefully managed as he enters the end stages of his career. The spotlight will also be on Imran Tahir, the legspinner who made his debut against Australia.

Sri Lanka's challenge is to put up tough enough resistance, and carve out a series of upsets to turn around a dismal period for them. Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dilhara Fernando and perhaps even Tillakaratne Dilshan could well be on their last tour of South Africa, with the next one scheduled for 2016, and would cherish leaving with a victory.

They will have to blend their roles of ushers in the side's transition period with the need to perform individually and create foundations on which victories can be built. The senior players will have to guide the younger members of the squad, including vice-captain Angelo Matthews, as Sri Lanka look to find a group that can serve them well in the next few years.

Sri Lanka's inexperienced bowling attack is expected to be the deciding factor in the series. The gulf between the performances of both teams' bowlers in recent times is vast. If Sri Lanka's bowlers can make use of conditions and be effective, the series could turn from what is expected to be a one-sided affair into a real battle.

The performances of the two Sri Lanka spinners, Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis, could prove to be decisive. With one a seasoned and consistent performer, and the other bringing an element of mystery with his variations, they may well outshine their pace attack and puzzle their opponents. Spinners are not usually expected to play a leading role on South African pitches but for Sri Lanka, Herath and Mendis hold the key to taking 20 wickets.

Off the field, both teams have had significant administrative issues. Cricket South Africa's ongoing bonus scandal has damaged the reputation of the game in the country but it has not had the same effect on players as Sri Lankan cricket's financial crisis. South Africa don't have sponsors, Sri Lanka don't have salaries.

The South Africa team has escaped boardroom shenanigans, while the Sri Lanka team has often been a victim of them. It may not amount to much during the matches, but it is the background that this Sri Lanka team looks to rise out of. They will have to rise extremely high, but if they do it would make a great story.