The most successful venture into Sri Lanka by the Proteas was the very first one when the test series was won 1-0 by South Africa and the three-match one-day series drawn one all with one match rained out.
Since then the going has been tough in Sri Lanka so the challenge facing the Proteas over the next five weeks will be substantial.
Normally on any overseas tour that encompasses test matches as well as one-day internationals both series are important. However, the test matches will probably have a higher priority.
This time, however, due to the fact that it is a World Cup year the ODI series will be just as important.
The one-day series starts off the tour in Colombo. Although conditions are vastly different on the sub-continent to what will be experienced at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand it is important to create a winning habit.
The team combination is equally important. Fortunately, the Proteas were in Sri Lanka a year ago. They should benefit from the experience. They lost that one-day series 4-1.
They were unsure of the right combinations and experimented from a selection point of view. At one point they resorted to playing three spinners, which didn't work.
One would expect the tour selectors this time to play one specialist spinner and JP Duminy as the second spinner. This will allow a better balanced team.
The other problem was looking too much at history in making the crucial decision in Sri Lanka whether to bat or bowl first at the toss.
This in particular was the case at the R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo where the team batting second has won on more occasions.
One has to look at history as a point of reference, but each match is a different entity and last year at this venue prevailing conditions suggested that batting first was going to be better. It turned out to be the case.
The opening one-day international is there so hopefully the decision-making process this time will be in line with the relevant conditions on the day rather than a total reliance on results of past matches.
Sri Lanka have a very simple game plan which makes them very hard to beat in their own backyard. They adopt a patient batting approach with Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene setting the platform.
Rather than being too adventurous at the start they believe in wickets in hand during the last ten overs.
On the bowling front their spinners are key and of course the best one-day bowler in the world, Lasith Malinga, is a major factor in their campaign. He bowls superbly at the end of the innings and also picks up key wickets.
From a South African batting point of view it is essential that the top order start well. This is always important but even more so in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan spinners are expert at controlling the middle overs.
Once they come on during this phase of the game the batting team cannot afford to have new batsmen at the crease.
Similarly from a batting point of view the plan has to be not to leave the situation in such a way that too many runs have to be scored in the latter overs when Malinga comes to the fore.
A simple plan would be to start positively but sensibly with a view of having established partnerships when the spinners come on.
This will enable the South African batsmen to put real pressure on the Sri Lanka bowlers between over 35 and 45, excepting that Malinga will be hard to score off at the end.
On the last tour to Sri Lanka the South African bowlers were rusty at the beginning and conceded too many extras. Basic discipline on the bowling front will be key as always.
There will be some movement with the new ball. That's where the South African attack will be dangerous. Also, this time the intention should be to establish good bowling partnerships at the back end of the innings.
Due to the fact that the Proteas have the advantage of a recent experience in Sri Lanka and the incentive of the upcoming World Cup I expect a much improved performance from last year this time around.
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