They are out of contention for the WTC finals but this is new captain Bavuma's chance to ease into the role
Cricket and South Africa seem to have a love-hate relationship of late. The wheels for this were set in motion by the SA20 auction in September of last year. Since then, the men have crashed in the group stages of the T20 World Cup and later set unwanted records in Australia.
The success of their premium SA20 product followed before they also hosted the inaugural Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup. Then came the Women's Senior World T20, where hosts South Africa were stopped in the final, two days before the start of the men's Test series between South Africa and the West Indies.
A Test match against the West Indies may not invite thousands of spectators - like those packed into the stands for the SA20. After all, South Africa is not even playing for the WTC final anymore.
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But that could prove to be an ideal pressure-free start for new Test captain Tembu Bavuma. During those months, it was as much a circus for him personally as it was for his side: after initially being rejected for the SA20 auction, South Africa made an early exit from the T20 World Cup under Bavum before the strike. odds of 114.64 while scoring 180 runs - including a century - in three ODIs against England saw him eventually attract a SA20 deal.
And in addition to being appointed as the new Test captain, he has to contend with a revamped squad and coaching set-up; The number of support staff in South Africa for this Test series is 12, which is more than the number of players who will appear in the squad.
West Indies don't have that much drama to deal with as they landed in South Africa after a 1-0 series win in Zimbabwe. The opposition, the pitch and the conditions won't be similar as the slow, turning track of Bulawayo will be replaced by a spicier combination of pace and bounce in Centurion for the start.
Before Bulawayo, West Indies' last away Test victory came two years ago. West Indies also have an interim coach, with batsman pair Alick Athanaze and seamer Akeem Jordan also in the squad. This means that only five of their 15-man squad on this tour have previously played a Test in South Africa.
South Africa's party in Cape Town may not have ended as they would have liked, and before the public can barely get over their women's team's World Cup final loss, the men are bringing the grit and drudgery of Test cricket the country last saw almost a year ago.
Form Wizard
(Last five games, last first)
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Spotlight: Dean Elgar and Kemar Roach
Dean Elgar averages a lowly 15.25 in his last 12 Test innings. All of that came while he was captain, a phase he hasn't particularly enjoyed with the bat: since being appointed permanent Test captain in March 2021, he has averaged just 28.40 without a single century. And while it may be too soon to let him go, he will be wary of being just six months away from turning 36, just as he will be with Tony de Zorzi's selection and Aiden Markram's return to the Test fold.
Kemar Roach played only one Test for South Africa in a 14-year international career. While the West Indies were crushed by the innings and 220 runs, an injured ankle ruled him out of the match - and the rest of the Test series - after he bowled barely 16 overs on the first day. But since 2015, Roach has grabbed 141 Test wickets at 28.36. He has the pace and experience to deliver a challenging tour for West Indies.
South Africa have overhauled their setup from the last Test, which came against Australia in January. And with the hosts likely to attack with all the pace in Centurion, even Keshav Maharaj may not find a place. Markram is set to partner Elgar at the top, while right-arm quick Gerald Coetzee could make his debut.
Despite Gudakesh Motie taking 13 wickets in the win over Zimbabwe and spin-bowling all-rounder Roston Chase scoring 70 and a subsequent 35 in the warm-up on this tour, West Indies may not find room to accommodate both spinners. Roach could fit in as the fourth Mariner behind Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel.
West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Kyle Mayers, 4 Raymon Reifer, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Roston Chase/Gudakesh Motie, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Joshua Da Silva (weekend), 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel
Spacing and conditions
The pitch at SuperSport has traditionally been seamer-friendly, with South Africa often getting the better of visiting sides with quick pace and bounce. Four of the last five Tests have seen the captain win the toss first. As for the weather, there has been a lot of rain in Centurion of late, but it is mostly expected to be sunny on Tuesday, the first day of the Test.
From the current West Indies squad, Kraigg Brathwaite, Gabriel, Blackwood and Holder were part of the group that played their last Test in South Africa. The home team, on the other hand, had Bavuma and Simon Harmer in the eleven.
South Africa won 24 of the 27 Tests they played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The venue last hosted a drawn Test in December 2009.
Bavuma will become South Africa's fourth Test captain from 2020: he has been overtaken by Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Elgar in that period.
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