South Africa begin their two-test series against the West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Wednesday as overwhelming favourites – at least as far as history is concerned.
The West Indies won the inaugural match between the teams 32 years ago, a hastily arranged one-off test at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, but since then have lost all nine series and won just two further matches, one at Sabina Park in Jamaica in 2001 and the other at St George’s Park in 2007.
It is fair to say that South African teams during that most of that period were considerably stronger than the current one – they were certainly far more experienced – but the current West Indies team is also woefully short of test caps.
But there is almost certainly more at stake than merely the series, or even the World Test Championship in which South Africa still have an interest, albeit one which will see them having to win at least seven of their remaining eight test matches against four different opponents to have a chance of reaching the final.
They are currently in eighth place with just a single victory from four matches having shared a home series 1-1 with India and effectively forfeited an away series 2-0 to New Zealand by sending a ‘C’ team.
Test cricket itself faces an uncertain future in South Africa and the Caribbean with lacklustre administrators talking about the importance of the format but failing to match their words with actions.
To be fair, the current distribution of the global game’s enormous riches does put both at a considerable disadvantage to the ‘big three’ nations, England, Australia and India which dominates the world game.
Focused and Determined 🏏🚀
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 24, 2024
Ready to charge forward, Temba Bavuma steps onto the nets in preparation for the crucial Proteas vs. West Indies test series. 🏏🇿🇦#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvWI pic.twitter.com/bueo4Or1U1
Kagiso Rabada, however, has a simple solution: take the decisions out of the remit of administrators with actions on the field.
“It's up to us as well to boost the game. You look at the big three, Australia, England, India and they just have the most money to be quite frank. However, if you want those nations playing against you, then you need to be playing good cricket. You need to be challenging for that ICC mace or World Test Championship," Rabada said from Trinidad.
“That's one of the ways in which you have control to set an equilibrium among teams. That's one thing that the unions can control: to play good cricket.”
MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON FOR RABADA
Captain Temba Bavuma epitomises the difficulties the team face with so little test and even first-class cricket on their schedules.
While Rabada and several others in the test squad have at least had the chance to boost their bank balances in T20 cricket for the last six months, Bavuma – who has also suffered injuries – has played just two first-class games and no international cricket at all in 2024.
“It feels like we’re starting over again and again,” Bavuma said referring to the lack of cricket – but not complaining about it.
“We have spoken a lot about our philosophy for winning games and (the schedule) is what it is. We are not the only team in this situation, we just need to make the best of it,” Bavuma said.
Rabada, meanwhile, needs nine wickets to become just the sixth SA bowler to reach 300 test wickets.
If he does so in in the first test he will reach the landmark in 63 matches, the same as Allan Donald and just one fewer than Dale Steyn.
“It will be such a special landmark but I'm not focused on that. It will just be a byproduct,” he said.
“I'm just focused on making sure that I'm there for the team and that I find a way to put in a performance. Putting in a performance ultimately means that the team is moving in the right direction and that I'm doing my part.”
MOST TEST WICKETS FOR SA:
439 – Dale Steyn
421 – Shaun Pollock
390 – Makhaya Ntini
330 – Allan Donald
309 – Morne Morkel
291 – Jacques Kallis
291 – Kagiso Rabada.
The home team have selected a squad with three specialist spinners and rested their vice-captain, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, for the series, confirming how and where they expect the matches to be contested.
“Alzarri has had a considerable workload recently, and this break will allow him to recuperate and return to peak performance. Kevin Sinclair is presently recovering from an injury” said head coach Andre Coley.
WEST INDIES SQUAD: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Mikyle Louis, Alick Athanaze, Tevin Imlach, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Joshua de Silva (vice-captain), Jason Holder, Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Bryan Charles, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Kemar Roach.
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreyne, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Nandre Burger, Migael Pretorius.
1st TEST: August 7-11, Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad
2nd TEST: August 15-19, Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana.