SA vs BAN 2022: Sightscreen issue delays start of first Test in Durban

The first Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh at Durban should have commenced at 10:00 AM local time. However, there was a 35-minute delay as the sightscreens at both ends were not functioning properly.

As a result, the ground staff had to hurry and put up white clothes because the electronic screens did not function. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first, and the two South African openers, skipper Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee walked out and found that the sightscreen was faulty.

This forced the players off the field and there was a delay of more than half an hour. At the time of writing, the South African scorecard read 94/0, and both openers have provided a steady start for the Proteas at the top of the order.

South Africa are without several marquee players for the first Test against Bangladesh

The South African side is missing several of its regulars for the Test series against Bangladesh. Many Proteas cricketers have chosen to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) instead of putting on the whites.

Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen are some of the marquee players that the Dean Elgar-led side will miss for the two-match Test series against the Bangladeshi Tigers. Bangladesh have never beaten South Africa in Test cricket and will be eyeing their first-ever win against them.

South Africa won their previous home Test series against the Indian side. The Proteas beat the then Virat Kohli-led Indian side 2-1 in their own backyard.

On the other hand, Bangladesh created history in their previous Test series against New Zealand, by recording their first-ever Test victory against the Kiwis in the first Test match of the series. However, New Zealand won the second Test by an innings and 117 runs, as the two-Test rubber ended in a 1-1 draw.