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[Gerry SA]

South Africa's first home series since Graeme Smith retired. First time in a decade both Smith and Kallis will not play a home series.

Jean-Paul Duminy is out injured for the entire 3 match series, therefore his Cobras teammate Stiaan van Zyl will make Test debut at 6(de Kock down to 7). Interesting sub plot, the struggling Alviro Petersen is try to fend off the hangman's noose. Some 23 months without a Test century, more failings will see van Zyl replace him as opener when Duminy returns.

Dane Piedt is also injured and Imran Tahir has faded from the Test scene, meaning another recall for veteran Robin Peterson.

Pitch as Centurion favours fast bowling, so Kyle Abbott may pip Robin Peterson.

West Indies are without Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo - both seemingly too big to bother with Test cricket...

The ageless Shivnarine Chanderpaul needs 230 runs to surpass Brian Lara as the highest run scorer from the Caribbean in Test history. I hope he get there in this series as he's been a fantastic servant for West Indian cricket, and is a legend.

The boys from the caribbean are bringing a fiery fast bowling attack as well. Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Shannon Gabriel and Sheldon Cottrell.

Much depends on Chanderpaul and Samuels in an otherwise inexperienced batting line-up.

Big pressure on Hashim Amla as well, a slip up against 8th ranked West Indies, and historic series win in Sri Lanka will be soon forgotten.....

[benny231]

I'd expect South Africa to pump the WI. WI batting looks fragile, and the SA quicks should expose that. However, WI have a solid bowling attack, but if SA see off their first spells, they will quickly drop their heads. Marlon Samuels will struggle if the pitches provide movement for the bowlers, much like he struggled in NZ and was dropped 12 months ago.

[potzy248]

The much overrated Proteas should just do enough to beat the woeful WI team.
I'm sure that the two village bowlers, Steyn and Morkel who only seem to take wickets at home and on green damp seaming pitches will continue to underwhelm.
If SA bat first then we're all in for a sleepathon as the painfully slow Amla will no doubt bat for himself and show everyone exactly how selfish he is. I suppose we can look forward to some entertainment as the two sloggers Faf and AB once again reinforce that they both should stick to limited overs cricket.
The rest of the side are hardly with mentioning at all. I think they will win because of how poor the WI's team is but I wouldn't put it past the chokers falling over under the smallest amount of pressure.

[sfa82]

The much overrated Proteas should just do enough to beat the woeful WI team.
I'm sure that the two village bowlers, Steyn and Morkel who only seem to take wickets at home and on green damp seaming pitches will continue to underwhelm.
If SA bat first then we're all in for a sleepathon as the painfully slow Amla will no doubt bat for himself and show everyone exactly how selfish he is. I suppose we can look forward to some entertainment as the two sloggers Faf and AB once again reinforce that they both should stick to limited overs cricket.
The rest of the side are hardly with mentioning at all. I think they will win because of how poor the WI's team is but I wouldn't put it past the chokers falling over under the smallest amount of pressure.

Always good to start the morning with a bit of comedy!

[sfa82]

There has been a lot of rain around Pretoria this week and it is still very overcast this morning. Overhead conditions definitely suggest a bowling first day.

[Gerry SA]

Denesh Ramdin wins the toss and elects to have a bowl.

Proteas go in with the 4 fast bowlers.

Stiaan van Zyl received his Test cap by the Man he replaced Jean-Paul Duminy. Nice moment.

West Indies have 3 quicks and Suliman Benn.

[sfa82]

Proteas can also utilize Dean Elgar to bowl some left arm spin if needed.

First home test of the summer always exciting. Now the rain just needs to stay away!

[Gerry SA]

lacklustre start from the West Indies. Taylor spearing into Alviro's pads far too often. Bizarre than Kemar Roach hasn't taken the new ball...

[smilley792]

Roach strikes in his 3rd over.

Should have had the new ball!

[Gerry SA]

2/57 Cottrell gets Elgar. Openers proving to be a problem

[AndrewS]

Roach seems fired up - WI remembering how to bowl.

[Gerry SA]

3/57 Roach gets du Plessis

Why on Earth did Roach not get the new ball...

[sfa82]

Now Faf gone too!

[Andythomo21]

It's like watching England bat!!

[smilley792]

I'm not watching anyone bat! Lost pictures. South Africans struggling with the technology today