Sri Lankans seek to improve overseas record

Whatmore also sees the tour as an opportunity for SriLanka, the 1996 World Cup champions, to prepare for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa following a disappointing showing in the 1999 tournament in England.

Both teams are in Prime form, with Sri Lanka ranked one and South Africa two in the English-based Cricketer International magazine ratings.

Sri Lanka have won 11 of their last 12 matches and South Africa trounced New Zealand 5-0 in a recent one-day series.

The series in South Africa will be split into two segments, with the first two matches being played on Friday in Port Elizabeth and Sunday in East London.

Then there will be a break from One-Day cricket, while two Test matches are played before the remaining four limited overs games in January.

The extra bounce of South African pitches compared to those in Sri Lanka is likely to be a factor although Port Elizabeth and East London have two of the slower surfaces.

Whatmore says much of Sri Lanka’s pre-tour preparation was based on adjusting to the pace and bounce expected in South Africa, with the batsmen practising against tennis balls and against bowling from close range.

"It’s important that the extra pace and bounce should not be considered a negative factor. If the batsmen get settled, then stroke play will become easier as the ball comes onto the bat.

"Our batsmen like to play their shots and I believe that they should be thinking positively about the opportunity of batting on the South African wickets," said Whatmore. "Our pace attack will also enjoy the conditions."

South Africa will have to adapt quickly from playing Test cricket after completing a 2-0 series win over New Zealand on Monday but their players are in form.

Ten of the 13-man South African One-Day squad played in the Test series – while Andrew Hall, a one-day specialist who will open the batting in both the first two matches – hit an impressive 61 not out off 41 balls for the Nicky Oppenheimer XI in Sri Lanka’s first match of the tour last week.

Fast bowler Allan Donald will have to pass a fitness test after missing the final Test against New Zealand with a stomach muscle injury.

Teams(from):

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Roger Telemachus.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain),Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Avishka Gunawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upal Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.