Favourites SA look to make significant gains

Last summer was South Africa’s season of significant loss, as far as Test cricket was concerned. They were confronted with the retirements of two of their most experienced players – Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith – and they were defeated for the first time in a series since claiming the Test mace, by Australia. This summer, they plan on it being a season of significant gain.

Any margin of victory over West Indies will keep South Africa at No.1 but it is not just rankings points that they hope to gain. A new batsman, likely to be Stiaan van Zyl, will be blooded while JP Duminy recovers from a knee injury; a relatively new opener, Dean Elgar, will have the chance to cement his spot; and two new squad members, Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, will have the opportunity to be integrated into the national set-up. It is a time of personal growth for South Africa, which they believe they can afford to have against the No.8-ranked side.

West Indies are in a similar situation, with a squad that contains the experienced and the unknown. The stalwarts, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin, have to usher the youngsters – most of whom are bowlers – through a transitional phase. That task will be made all the more difficult because of whom they are up against.

There is a clear distinction between the favourites and the underdogs and an expectation that this series will be one-sided. Neither team has been able to shy away from that build-up but both know that strange things happen in cricket and this series could spring a few surprises.

Form guide

(most recent first)

South Africa WDWLW

West Indies WWLWL

In the spotlight

Alviro Petersen does not need to pick up a newspaper, glance at a website or listen to the sports news on radio or television to know that his form is the most scrutinised aspect of South Africa’s current Test squad. The 23 months and 23 innings he has gone without a century are enough to remind him of that. But Petersen has been known to up his game when there is increased heat on him, and his coach and team-mates are tipping him to do exactly that in this series. Russell Domingo and Elgar said they could sense a big score was “just around the corner,” for the senior opener and he will want to deliver on those predictions.

West Indies’ batting is thought to be their soft spot in this series, which is why they will need a strong showing from their heavyweights, particularly Marlon Samuels. He has both history – he was the overall highest run-scorer in their previous Test series here in 2007-08 – and form – with two centuries from his last three international innings and a double-hundred in the tour match – on his side. As one of the senior-most members in the squad, Samuels is expected to step up.

Team news

JP Duminy is unlikely to feature in the series, which will mean an opportunity for Cobras No. 3 van Zyl. Hashim Amla said there was a “very good chance,” van Zyl will debut in Centurion but that he probably would not bat in Duminy’s No. 7 spot. That may mean a jump up to No.6, with wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock moving into the more traditional gloveman’s position, or a radical decision to promote van Zyl to open ahead of the out-of-form Petersen. That would leave South Africa with six specialist batsmen and would allow them to play four seamers and a spinner. If van Zyl bats lower down and they make use of seven batsmen, the debate is whether to throw the full force of their pace pack against West Indies, or include a spinner to do a containing job.

South Africa (probable) 1 Alviro Petersen, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Stiaan van Zyl, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Kyle Abbott/Robin Peterson

West Indies’ major concern is their batting because they are without Chris Gayle (back injury) and Darren Bravo (withdrew for personal reasons.) Devon Smith will make a return to the top two, while Leon Johnson will likely slot into the spot Bravo may have occupied at No.3. Like South Africa, West Indies are debating whether to field an all-pace attack or include their spinner, Sulieman Benn. Either way, left-armer Sheldon Cottrell seems certain to play after taking five-wickets in the warm-up game, perhaps ahead of Shannon Gabriel.

West Indies 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Devon Smith, 3 Leon Johnson, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 7 Denesh Ramdin (capt & wk), 8 Jerome Taylor, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Sulieman Benn/Shannon Gabriel

Pitch and conditions

Centurion will present the spiciest surface of the series, despite a significant amount of green grass being stripped from the pitch on Monday. Known to offer bounce and carry, fast bowlers will look to feast, especially as atmospheric conditions will also be in their favour. Wet weather hung over the Highveld on Tuesday and could have a say on the amount of game time the teams get. Rain is forecast for every day of the match, except Saturday. Although it appears set, it may dissipate into afternoon thundershowers only.

Stats and trivia

West Indies have only won one of the 12 Tests they have played in South Africa. That was in December 2007, in Port Elizabeth.

AB de Villiers is three away from registering 100 Test catches.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul needs 229 runs to surpass Brian Lara’s record as West Indies’ highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

Quotes

“We felt like we’ve been away for a long time so it’s really nice to be back. We want to give the home fans some cricket and hopefully some victories.”

After winter tours to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Australia, Hashim Amla and his men are happy to be home

“We’re trying to make it as enjoyable as possible for the young guys, which is most important. It doesn’t make sense if you are doing something and not enjoying it. So far we are in the right stead.”

Creating a comfortable environment for new players is on Denesh Ramdin’s mind