South Africa vs Sri Lanka ODI Series

Cricket fans are champing at the bit for the start of the 5-game South Africa vs Sri Lanka ODI cricket series next week, with match one scheduled for Wednesday (January 11) at Boland Park in the picturesque South African town of Paarl.

Even though South Africa and Sri Lanka are currently still embroiled in the last of their three 5-day Test cricket matches at Newlands cricket ground in Cape Town - which will decide the series as both teams have won a Test each, fans are already looking forward to the first ODI (one day international) next week.

Both Sides Have Announced Their ODI Lineups

In anticipation of the first ODI, both sides have announced their lineups, with some unexpected changes. In the case of South Africa, the team that will play at Boland Park will be without the services of batsman David Miller, leg-spinner Imran Tahir, and most surprisingly of all perhaps, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Boucher famously holds the record for the most Test dismissals at 540. However, the general consensus is that he, Miller and Tahir may have lost their ODI spots on account of last October's stinging limited-overs series home defeat to Australia.

The good news, however, is that despite the absence of the highly experienced Boucher, the selectors have filled the South African squad with more than enough talent to fend off their visitors, come Wednesday next week.

The final South African ODI cricket squad will comprise: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (captain), JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Sri Lanka Have Retained T.M. Dilshan as Team Captain

The Sri Lankans too have been preparing for next week's ODI, and also recently posted their final squad that will face the Proteas in Paarl next week. A notable development is that T.M. Dilshan has been retained as the team captain, no doubt because of the fine job he did leading his team to victory in the second Test last month.

The final Sri Lankan ODI cricket squad will comprise: T.M.Dilshan (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kosala Kulesekera, Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando and Lahiru Thirimanne.

In terms of South Africa vs Sri Lanka ODI cricket odds, top-rated online sports betting site Sportingbet.com has posted the latest ODI series outright winner odds, which show South Africa as the betting favourites to win the series.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka ODI odds at Sportingbet

South Africa 4/9
Sri Lanka 7/4

SA vs Sri Lanka ODI Series Schedule

Date	Match	Ground	City
11/01/12	1st ODI	Boland Park	Paarl
14/01/12	2nd ODI	Buffalo Park	East London
17/01/12	3rd ODI	OUTsurance Oval	Bloemfontein
20/01/12	4th ODI	Diamond Oval	Kimberley
22/01/12	5th ODI	Wanderers Stadium	Johannesburg

 Posted by Anton Johan at 14:33 on 5 January 2012