West Indies starts a two-Test contest against South Africa today with the home side believing it has its best chance in 30 years of overcoming the unsettled visitor in a series at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.
Kraigg Brathwaite’s team is unbeaten in its last four Tests - a 2-0 triumph in Bangladesh and drawn matches at home against Sri Lanka.It goes into the campaign ranked just ahead of a Proteas team reeling from successive heavy defeats in two Tests in Pakistan.
South Africa has senior opening batsman Dean Elgar installed as Test captain following the retirement of Faf du Plessis from the traditional format.
West Indies suffered a setback leading into the opening Test when its fastest bowler, Shannon Gabriel, was ruled out through injury.
It opens the prospect of 19-year-old pacer Jayden Seales making a Test debut although his lack of experience - he has played just one First-Class match - could see the selectors opting for Alzarri Joseph. Brathwaite, Joseph and senior seamer Kemar Roach have all benefited from stints on the English county circuit following the end of the Sri Lanka series.
It remains to be seen if the West Indies Captain will have Kieran Powell or Shai Hope as his partner at the top of the batting order.
West Indies - Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Shai Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach.
South Africa: Dean Elgar (Captain), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. (Agencies)
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