Image copyright: Getty Images
West Indies tour of South Africa
Test Format
1st Test
South Africa v West Indies
SuperSport Park
Centurion, South Africa
28 February - 4 March 2023
South Africa will look to get the Shukri Conrad era underway on a positive note when they face West Indies at SuperSport Park in the
first Test, which starts on Tuesday, February 28.
Conrad was appointed Test coach after the T20 World Cup last year but only officially took on his new role on February 1, leaving white-ball coach Rob Walter to take charge of the series in Australia.
The Proteas were no match for Australia and lost the three-match series 2-0 as they struggled with both bat and ball, surpassing the 200-mark just twice in six innings and making the hosts bat only once each in the second and third Tests.
The Windies also experienced a hard time Down Under recently, losing both Tests to Australia in December, although they bounced back against Zimbabwe earlier this month to win the two-match series 1-0.
After the first Test in Bulawayo was drawn, the West Indies dismissed Zimbabwe for just 115 before posting 292 themselves and restricting the hosts to 173 to win the second Test by an innings and 4 runs.
Gudakesh Motie was named Man of the Series after taking 19 wickets, having finished with figures of 7/37 and 6/62 in the second Test to almost single handedly dismantle the Chevrons.
The left-arm Orthodox bowler might not enjoy the same success in South Africa, where the pitches aren't as conducive to spin bowling but the Proteas would do well to approach him with caution.
All eyes will be on Temba Bavuma after he succeeded Dean Elgar as test captain ahead of the West Indies tour. The top-order batter will also remain the ODI skipper but has relinquished the T20 job after South Africa's early exit at the T20 World Cup last year.
Bavuma was one of South Africa's better performers with the bat in Australia, failing to get going just once when he was dismissed for 1 in the first innings of the second Test. He scored 38, 29, 65, 35 and 17 not out in his other five innings.
Image copyright: Getty Images
South Africa are the current holders of the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy, having beaten the West Indies 2-0 in the last Test series between the two teams in St. Lucia two years ago.
Conrad revealed it was his decision to replace Elgar with Bavuma, having made the call based purely on his relationship with the latter.
"This was my decision. I felt Temba and I were a good fit, and Dean's still going to play a huge part in our leadership group," Conrad said.
"Dean's done an exceptional job over the last couple of years, and in my conversation with him, that's something I made clear. This doesn't make Dean a poor captain and Temba a good captain. But I felt this was the right fit for me and for us going forward.
"We've come a long way, Temba and I. He knows how I want to do things, and I've got a good understanding of how he wants to be involved and run things.
"Our couple of days in Bloemfontein and Kimberley have gone a long way in consolidating the fact that Temba was going to be the captain. Hopefully his performances will keep shining. He's been a star performer for the Test side. I think captaincy sits well with him."
Windies lead selector, Desmond Haynes, acknowledges the Proteas will provide another stern challenge but is hoping his compatriots can win the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy for the first time.
"This will be a challenging tour. There is no easy away tour in Test cricket. South Africa have a good team, but I am sure we will be up for the task and will do well in these two Test matches," Haynes said.
Head-to-Head (Tests)
Matches - 30
South Africa - 20
West Indies - 3
Draws - 7
Test Team Rankings
4 - South Africa
8 - West Indies
Bet on local and international cricket
Bet on all international and local cricket action all year round as we bring you the best online cricket betting platform. We offer a variety of Bet Types you can bet on, these include: Match Result, Team with Top Batter, Will there be a tie, Top Bowler, Coin Toss, Any Player to Score a Milestone, Total Runouts. Join Betway now & bet on cricket.
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.