Sri Lanka victory bodes well for Aussie tour

Monday, 2 January 2012 01:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sydney Morning Herald: SRI LANKA’S breakthrough Test victory in South Africa has given hope next summer’s cricket season in Australia could pack an unexpected punch.

Sri Lankan players celebrate the wicket of South Africa's Ashwell Prince (not pictured) during the fourth day of their second cricket test match in Durban, December 29, 2011. REUTERS

The Proteas and Sri Lanka will be feature items for the 2012-13 campaign, with Tillakaratne Dilshan’s side the big-ticket item as it will contest the two marquee matches - the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests.

The prospect of hosting Sri Lanka looked to be a fizzer, but their 208-run win in the second Test in Durban - their first win in four Test tours of the country - might have changed that. Traditionally woeful away from home, the Sri Lankans have finally shown some fight under new captain Dilshan.

Advertisement: Story continues below South Africa’s decision to snub Australia’s Christmas period looked to have robbed Melbourne and Sydney of the chance to reprise the marketing spoils of the current Indian series. The Proteas will tour Australia for three Tests but the matches will be held before Christmas. South Africa, ranked No.3 in the world and one of the sport’s big drawcards, will play a Test at the Gabba for the first time in 49 years, with trips to Perth and Adelaide also likely.

The two countries have a history of tight battles, the latest a drawn two-Test series last month in South Africa, and appearances in the Boxing Day and New Year’s Test matches would have been a promotional boon in Australia’s biggest markets. However, Cricket South Africa is angry that Australia refuse to alternate and tour during the Christmas period, claiming it robs South Africa of the chance to cash in on a Boxing Day Test. This means Cricket Australia next summer must content itself with a visit by Sri Lanka, ranked No. 6, during the holiday period.

The tourists, though, will be buoyed by the schedule. They will play a Boxing Day Test for the first time since the controversial clash of 1995, when Muttiah Muralitharan was called by umpire Darrell Hair for throwing.