Colombo, July 19:

South Africa, led by their first non-white captain Ashwell Prince, arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday to play two Tests and a one-day series also featuring India.

The Proteas are depleted by the absence of regular captain Graeme Smith and star all-rounder Jacques Kallis, both of whom are injured. Veteran pace bowler Shaun Pollock will also miss the first Test, having chosen to stay home with his wife who is expecting a child next week. Only 12 of the 14 players arrived on Wednesday. Rookie spinner Thandi Tshabalala, will join the squad next week from Australia where he is representing a junior South Africa team.

The South Africans begin the six-week tour with a three-day match in Colombo from Saturday. The two back-to-back Tests and the tri-series will also be played in Colombo.

The first Test will be held from July 27-31 and the second at the Sara stadium from August 4-8. The tri-series will be played at the Premadasa stadium and the Sinhalese sports club from August 14-29. Sri Lanka are buoyant after a successful tour of England where they fought back to draw the Test series 1-1 and blanked the hosts 5-0 in the one-dayers.

Sri Lanka will, however, be without opening batsman and regular captain Marvan Atapattu, who is nursing a back injury. Mahela Jayawardena will lead the home team.