The first match to be played at Centurion on Dec 17th, will offer lots of pace and bounce and South Africa will mull the idea of playing 4 fast bowlers. But I feel that playing a spinner in Peterson will be a better option considering that the opponents are from West Indies.
The batting card for SA looks very formidable with the ever reliable Dean Elgar and Alviro Peterson to open the innings with Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plesis, De Velliers, Van Zyl and de Kock to follow. The bowling options should be left with Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Peterson.
West Indies on the other hand, are coming into this test match with a very good practice match where Samules and Smith scored big hundreds and yet the bowling combination they they will be upto is expected to be atleast 5 times than they faced in that tour game.
The absence of Gayle, Daren Bravo, the all-rounder Bravo will have a huge impact on the outcome of the series.
The bowling options for West Indies will be Taylor, Roach, Jason Holder and Cottrell and on paper it does not look that penetrative.
The South Africans will prepare for this season with a thumbing series win.
My XI:
South Africa:
Dean Elgar, A. Peterson, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plesis, De Villiers, Van Zyl, de Kock, Peterson, Philander, Steyn and Morne Morkel
West Indies: Craig Brathwaite, D Smith, Johnson, Samuels, Chanderpaul, Blackwood, Ramdin, Taylor, Roach, Holder and Cottrell.
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