South Africa begin their Test series against the West Indies, starting at Port-of-Spain, on a high after white washing the West Indians 5-0 in the ODI series. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers both had very good series’, and Morne Morkel was the leading wicket taker with 11 victims at a touch over 15 per a wicket.
The Proteas, after the conjecture of the drawn Test series against England and the ignominy of not making the Pro20 World Cup semi finals, now firmly lies in the past as the South Africans will see this series as an opportunity for a fresh start.
They couldn’t have picked a better opponent to win their confidence back. The West Indies have once again shown their fragility within the team environment, with giant slow left arm spinner Sulieman Benn being sent from the field during the fourth ODI when he disagreed with captain Chris Gayle. Their batting also failed to ignite during the one day series, and with SA being a stronger Test outfit then a limited over one, it appears the South Africans will start as overwhelming favourites.
The fortunes of the hosts rests on Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (the only West Indies batsman to distinguish himself in the ODI series, finishing with an average of 52,33 from three innings), Dwayne Bravo, and to a lesser extent Brendan Nash. The Australian-born middle order batsman has the technique and patience for Test cricket, which in comparison to his more flamboyant teammates such as Bravo and Gayle, offers Chanderpaul vital support. With all due respect to Trevor Dowlin and Darren Sammy, they shouldn’t be batsman the Proteas will lose sleep over.
Their bowling isn’t nearly as dangerous as South Africa’s, with feisty Kemar Roach leading an inexperienced attack. For South Africa, they are blessed to have Dale Steyn and Morkel, two contrasting bowlers but equally as effective if they get it right, even more so if they do it together. There is the old saying that fast bowlers hunt in pairs, and these two have the ability (we already know about Steyn but I’m waiting for Morkel to reach his fifth gear. He can be our Curtly Ambrose) to hurt, out smart and unseat the West Indian batsman.
Hashim Amla, the world’s most improved international batsman, and Jacques Kallis, will make merry on the slower pitch in Trinidad. Paul Harris will play a big role, with the last Test hosted here, between England and the West Indies, seeing 14 wickets being snapped by the slow bowlers. Both Kallis and Amla represent a foreboding challenge to the bowlers, with SA’s no. 4 averaging over 70 in 21 Tests against the Windies.
This tour will also be the making or breaking of JP Duminy’s career for the foreseeable future. If he doesn’t cash in here, his place will be taken by Ashwell Prince, who I believe everyone now knows is a middle order batsman. His underrated off spin will keep him in the team for now, but unless Duminy makes runs, and this is a great opportunity to get his confidence back, franchise cricket will be the order of the day come the new domestic season.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell will vie for the third seam bowling position, with Parnell’s fitness being the main decider. Earmarked for a long career in the Proteas set up, Parnell is ahead but must prove he can last the five days.
This is also exactly the right place for Graeme Smith to get back into the swing of things as captain, away from the prying eyes of the SA public. With the Soccer World Cup keeping everyone here in SA distracted, Smith can use this series as a means of reasserting his authority over the national side (though I’m sure he is firmly in charge) after a mediocre few months. He is definitely the right man for the job, apart from being a key batsman for the Proteas, and should guide this very good side to a 3-0 series victory, weather permitting of course. Alviro Peterson gets another series to cement his place at the top of the order, and judging by his performance in India, has the patience to thrive at this level.
Mark Boucher is back behind the stumps, and while his limited-over career is over (and with all due respect to the Dale College graduate, he’s had a long enough run), at Test level he is incredibly important within the leadership group of the side. The Test environment has always been one Boucher has thrived in.
It’s going to be good work out for the South Africans, with all the usual customers looking a good bet to come to the party. Watch out for AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel to impress.
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