South Africa vs. West Indies Test series: Five key battles

Being the number one Test team in the world carries with it a lot of expectation. Part of that expectation is that the team will maintain their ranking when they take on struggling teams.

For South Africa to stay at the top, the task is simple. Even if Australia beat India 3-0 in their Test series, South Africa only need to beat the West Indies 1-0 in order to maintain top spot. A drawn series or a series loss will see them knocked off their perch, but even a 2-1 win will be good enough to keep the Aussies at bay.

While the ranking points are somewhat convoluted, it goes without saying that a 3-0 series win will give South Africa the biggest advantage of maintaining their lead at the top of the pile. With a World Cup coming up and South Africa not playing as many Tests as some of their "Big Three" friends, a clean sweep will put their "rating" at 125. The gap between them and whoever is ranked second is variable, but for now, the focus should be on a three-nil win. That is what is expected of them.

Over recent years, though, South Africa have been slow to get off the mark in home Tests, even against weaker opposition. They have only lost five of their home Test series since the start of 2000 (27 series in total) and have drawn three, but winning the first Test and dominating in the first Test has often been an issue. Here are five key battles that lie ahead in the series against the West Indies.

South Africa vs. the first-Test hiccup

South Africa were blown away by Australia in the first Test earlier this year, but managed to bounce back in the second before losing the final match. The Aussies certainly aren't comparable to the Windies, but even when India toured last year, they weren't entirely convincing. The drawn match in Johannesburg, against India, will forever be remembered as "what could have been", instead of South Africa's ability to hold on. While they were much more impressive in the first match against Pakistan in 2013, complacency can often creep in when weaker teams show up.

Much has changed in South Africa’s approach over the last 12 months and under Hashim Amla, they are moving away from the conventional and towards the pragmatic. Dominating the Test series from the start will be yet another expectation on the long list.

Stiaan van Zyl vs. the occasion

It’s no secret that Stiaan van Zyl will almost certainly be making his Test debut at Centurion. It’s also no longer a secret that JP Duminy is unlikely to recover from injury in time to play any part in the Test series at all. That means Van Zyl will almost definitely play in all three matches.

That the Cobras’ southpaw has the talent to make it count, there is no doubt. But he will be playing out of position, most likely at number seven, and having waited for so long for his debut, he could very easily be overwhelmed. Having three Tests to settle in might aid his cause, but it’s not going to be an easy ride.

South Africa’s bowlers vs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played more Tests against South Africa than any other West Indies player. He also has an average of 50.59 against them overall, with seven fifties and five hundreds in 20 Tests against South Africa. Chanderpaul might not be West Indies' best batsman, but he will be the most annoying. When frustrated, pace attacks can often go wayward and leak runs, allowing the opposition a sniff.

Cricket vs. the waning crowds

The domestic T20 final at Newlands on Friday showed that there was an appetite for live cricket in South Africa. But Test crowds have been on the wane for the last few years. While that’s by no means an issue exclusive to South Africa, getting bums on seats is a big challenge. The Cape Town Tests tends to sell out, so there is little worry there. But all eyes will be on the Boxing Day crowd at Port Elizabeth. Cricket South Africa aren’t sure of what the best course of action is for Boxing Day just yet, and while the vibe at PE is always immense, getting the crowd to play along will be a big tick for PE in terms of future Boxing Day prospects.

West Indies vs. disarray

Having done a runner in the middle of their tour to India due to an argument with their board and their players’ association, the Windies have it tougher than most touring teams. Not only will they have to deal with the prospect of facing Dale Steyn on a greentop in Centurion, but the backroom worries and issues will add to their challenging disposition. While CSA remain confident that the series will go ahead in its entirety, stranger things have happened, and both the West Indies team and its backroom staff need to keep a cool head. DM

Photo: West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul watches the ball bounce away after a difficult catch chance during the Prime Minister's X1 cricket match against the West Indies in Canberra, Friday, 02 December 2005. EPA/ALAN PORRITT