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WI vs SA | 1st Test: Searching different trajectories with new captains, two teams embark on red ball journey

Abhishek Singh

South Africa has probably had one of the most difficult Tests cricket lives among all Test-playing nations ever since 2018. Among the seven Test series it played since then, the men under Faf du Plessis and then under Quinton de Kock lost five of them, winning only against weakened Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home.

West Indies on the other hand have been on a bit of a revival spree of late, first under Jason Holder and then the new leader Kraigg Brathwaite. Since 2018, the men from the Caribbean have played 11 Test series, losing five, winning four and drawing two. They lost to higher-ranked opponents like England, India and New Zealand away from home and only against India at home. 

But, now, with an inspiring leader like Brathwaite at the helm, under whom the team won a series in Asia for the first time and came close to winning against Sri Lanka in Antigua in April, the Windies would be looking to strike hard against a newly built South Africa under an experienced player, but new leader Dean Elgar. 

The 33-year-old Elgar would be looking to create an impact on his first tour as captain as well. It is not only important for him personally but also important to bring back the confidence of the sponsors in boards, of players in themselves and most importantly, of the South Africans into cricket, after all the mudslinging that happened in this pandemic, be it on Black lives Matter or the CSA’s battle with Sports Ministry. 

The records hang in balance of the South African team in terms of wins and losses in Test scenario are concerned. The Proteas have won 18 of the 28 Tests between the two with West Indies getting only three games in their favour. Also, West Indies have not been able to win even a single Test series against South Africa since 1992/93. 

Winning a series against South Africa after a wait of almost 30 years would be a huge achievement for Brathwaite's team. But at the same time, Elgar's men would equally keen to protect the legacy. Thus the two captains with different trajectories, different side goals but one main goal- to win the series, would battle it out in the Daren Stadium, starting June 10. 

West Indies vs South Africa: Match Details

Match Number- 01

Date and Time: 07:30 pm IST, 14:00,,to GMT, 10:00 am Local

Venue: Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia

Broadcast/ Live Stream: Fancode

Pitch Report

The pitch at Gros Islet in St. Lucia is a bit on the slower side as has been the case with West Indies in recent years. However, it does not break easily leading to it being batting friendly. In fact, out of the seven Tests that have been played on this ground since its inception in 2003, four have resulted in a draw. In this game too, a slow wicket with bounce and swing in the first few hours of the day would be expected. 

Weather and Toss

With 96% cloud cover, 40% chances of precipitation and 8% chances of a thunderstorm on Thursday, June 10, the situation in Gros Islet doesn’t look ideal for Test match start. However, on winning the toss, the captains would like to field first without any doubt in such conditions. This weather forecast is only for the first two days and the remaining three days are supposed to play friendly, forcing the captains even more to field first on winning the toss. 

Team News

West Indies

The West Indies final squad was announced just on June 8, only two days ahead of the game. While Shai Hope and Roston Chase have been called in, a new face in the form of Jayden Seales has been drafted in the squad as well. Going by the looks of things, all three of them are looking like getting a shot in the playing XI. 

Probable XI

Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shai Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

South Africa

The Proteas are coming on the ack of a Test series loss against Pakistan. Therefore it is most likely that they would like to do some changes in the playing XI that played last time. With Faf du Plessis having bid adieu to the longer format, it is almost certain that Kyle Verreynne, who is coming on the back of a great domestic First-Class season where he scored a double century alongside one hundred and three fifties would feature in the playing XI. 

Another change from their previous XI would be playing an extra pacer in place of George Linde. 

Probable XI

Dean Elgar(c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne, Quinton de Kock(w), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi

Dream XI / Fantasy XI Predictions

Quinton de Kock, Shai Hope, Dean Elgar (vc), Kraig Brathwaite, Rassie van der Dussen, Jason Holder (c), Wiaan Mulder, Kemar Roach, Rakheem Cornwall, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

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