… Maturity, team culture and experience, key for South Africa

By Rajiv Bisnauth

ONCE cricket’s powerhouse in the 50-over format, the West Indies are now a pale shadow of their past. As they get ready for their first Tri-Series One-Day International (ODI) match against South Africa today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, captain Jason Holder calmly believes that their chances are as good as his other two opponents.The West Indies are poised to clash with One-Day International (ODI) world champions Australia and the powerful South Africa in a ten-match series, with the first three matches set for Guyana.
However, the hosts are ranked eighth in ODIs, 36 points behind table leaders Australia, with the Proteas 24 points ahead in the third spot.

They haven’t played a single ODI this year and won only four out of their last 11 games, with two of their wins coming against Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite all their glories this year, and despite being hosts of the tri-series, they don’t start as favourites at home, but Holder is backing his charges to take advantage of the home conditions and execute to perfection.
“We may be ranked lower than those teams (Australia and South Africa), but we are at home, so we need to take advantage of the conditions and just go out there and execute,” he told the Media yesterday.
“I think we have a pretty good chance, we have a good squad; many of the guys were in the World T20 squad that just won the World Cup, some of which are in very good form in the recent Indian Primer League (IPL). We have Carlos Brathwaite, who did really well, we have Marlon Samuels, who is ready and raring to go, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, who have a statement to make, so I am really looking forward to this series,” the West Indies skipper divulged.
The West Indies have not played a One-Day at the venue in over three years but have had mixed results at the stadium, winning four of eight contests. The series is the first for the West Indies since winning the Twenty20 World Cup in India in April.
However, the 24-year-old Holder pointed out that the mood in the camp is good, adding that the entire squad is highly motivated ahead of the series, saying “We have our own plans; everybody has his own plans, but what I stress with the guys is it’s all about executing.”

MATURITY, TEAM CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE
Meanwhile, South Africa captain AB de Villiers said while preparation was somewhat affected, they will rely on maturity, team culture and past experience in their bid to gain consistency in victories.

Further, de Villiers says they will not underestimate the hosts, since they are a team with a lot of explosive power, play exciting cricket and based on that we respect them as a team.
Spinners are likely to get more assistance from the pitch. However, pacers who can bring in their variations, especially the cutters and slower ones, could prove more than a handful.
For the batsmen, it will be an interesting test. They may not be able to score freely and will have to bide in their time at the wicket.
Gates open from 11:00hrs, with the game set to commence at 13:00hrs.
The West Indies then follow up with a clash against the Australians on Sunday at the same venue.
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (capt.), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.
South Africa squad: AB de Villiers (capt.), Quintonde Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.