ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 : South Africa vs West Indies Preview

In what will be the first clash of the World Cup between two ‘strong’ teams, South Africa and West Indies face off at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Thursday, promising to be a mouth- watering encounter.

Both teams have their own sets of challenges coming into the tournament. South Africa will be trying out an untested spin combination in the sub- continent and also have Jacques Kallis returning from a rib injury.

For the West Indies, a change in captaincy which sees Darren Sammy leading the pack, Adrian Barath and keeper Carlton Baugh ruled out due to injury right before the World Cup, and an unsuccessful tour of Sri Lanka makes things tricky.

For the Proteas, they have a lot things going for them on paper. Their batting looks settled with skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla at the top of the order. AB de Villiers has developed into a world- class middle- order batsman and their pace duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel can dispose of any line-up on any wicket.

However, with AB de Villiers keeping wickets, the Proteas lose their best fielder in the circle and his ability to handle the sub- continent wickets and keep against the spinners, especially new import Imran Tahir, hasn’t been tested yet. Also, lack of proven big- hitters lower down the order means the South Africans have a fairly long tail.

The West Indies, on the other hand, have a lot on their plate. Sammy was not even a certainty the ODI squad a year or so back and now finds himself leading the side at the World Cup after Chris Gayle gave up the captaincy.

They were already missing fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor due to injuries and two more were added to the list last week. The West Indies will rely on Gayle and Kieron Pollard for big hitting and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to anchor the innings. One of the fastest bowlers in the world, Kemar Roach will be their pace spearhead. Dwayne Bravo and Pollard will be responsible for bowling in the middle overs.

The last time the two met in a series, South Africa trounced the West Indies in their own backyard 0. So when the two teams lock horns at the Kotla on Thursday, it would be difficult to give a favourites’ tag to either team, especially since their head- tohead at the World Cup is 2- 2.

What will add to the mystique of the game is the Kotla pitch itself. This will be the first international match since the Delhi wicket International ‘ dangerous’ between November There game months matches So scores The to play this captains first possibly hope deteriorate HOPE South Smith wicket

spective perspective, But put Let’s tomorrow,” For will chances. “ Spin part have spinners off- all these best ajit. wicket was banned by the International Cricket Council for a dangerous’ track during an ODI between India and Sri Lanka in November 2009. There has been no first- class game on the wicket for three months and only a couple of Ranji matches have been played on it. There is little expectation of scores close to 300.

The weather, too, will have a role play as dew is expected during this time of the year. So the captains will be in a dilemma to bat first and bowl when the dew possibly comes in, or bowl first and hope the wicket doesn’t deteriorate later on while batting.