West Indies are on a tour of South Africa where they are scheduled to participate in a cricket series consisting of 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 3 T20Is. The first Test series of the tour is scheduled to begin on February 28 as part of the World Test Championship Trophy.
The new generation of West Indies Test cricketers looks to the legendary 80 generations for inspiration as they face South Africa in a two-match Test series.
The declining standards of the West Indies Test team over the years has been highlighted by many. From dominating world cricket, they are struggling to get back to that peak.
The 80’s generation of West Indies Test cricketers was a once-in-a-lifetime breed of sportsmen. Their 15 years of dominance in Test cricket, where they went unbeaten from 1980 to 1995, is a feat that looks impossible to repeat by any Test nation.
The main reason behind that unprecedented victory was that they had a great cause for which they were playing. Viv Richards and his teammates entered the history books as one of the greatest teams the game has ever seen.
Red ball captain kraigg Brathwaite said in an exclusive interview,
“Those guys are our role models. The reason we play right now is because of the inspiration that generation has had on us as a team and the people of the Caribbean.”
In a different world altogether to what the Richards’ played in, Brathwaite looks to lead in a slightly different way. His leadership style focuses more on making everyone in his team feel like an integral part of the team.
“For me, it’s all about making the guys feel comfortable in the team. I’ve been lucky to have the senior guys in our team who have made my job as a leader a lot better with their contributions on and off the field. They have taken massive responsibility for us as a side.”
However, the West Indies, who have not won a Test series against South Africa before, will have some pressure on them, but a win over Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe this month will ease that pressure.
Commenting on the south Africa’s quality fast bowlers, the Red Ball skipper said;
“We know that South Africa are a quality side and they have some big fast bowlers in their attack but for us, it is about sticking to our plans and staying disciplined. We back ourselves in this series.”
West Indies in South Africa schedule:
February 21-23 – Warm-up match vs SA Invitational XI (Benoni)
Feb 28-March 4 – 1st Test (Centurion), March 8-12 – 2nd Test (Johannesburg)
March 16 – 1st ODI (East London), March 18 – 2nd ODI (East London), March 21 – 3rd ODI (Potchefstroom)
March 25 – 1st T20I (Centurion), March 26 – 2nd T20I (Centurion), March 28 – 3rd T20I (Johannesburg)
West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Alick Athanaze, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeem Jordan, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas
South Africa Test Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton.