Prince, who replaced regular captain Graham Smith earlier this week at the helm after Smith tore two ligaments in his left ankle, will also have to make do without specialist batsman and vice-captain Jacques Kallis.

To compound his woes, veteran bowler Shaun Pollock will also not take to the field because of paternity leave awaiting the birth of a child.

"I am inexperienced when it comes to the captaincy, but I am obviously delighted that I have been given the chance," he was quoted as saying in an interview with SuperSport.com.

"I'm sure the United Cricket Board could have looked at other candidates. Those candidates have a lot of experience and I will have the opportunity to draw from their experience," he said.

Left-hander Prince's breakthrough on the highest level came in 2000 and in his first Test against Australia that year he made a brave 49.

Following a second innings of 28 in the same Test, he has since gone on to make 1,089 runs in Test cricket and another 870 in One Day International.

His initial inclusion in the team prompted outcries of favouritism under the country's controversial quota system for black players, but Prince, who has long been highly rated by local cricket supremo Ali Bacher, showed his form with some valuable knocks in the middle order.

The last time South Africa toured Sri Lanka, in 2004, they lost both the Test and one-day series.