The Sir Vivian Richards Trophy is on the line between South Africa and the West Indies. The first of two Test matches takes place in Trinidad and Tobago in mid-August. Fourth-ranked South Africa visits eighth-ranked West Indies on Windies home turf. The current ICC Test Championship tournament sees South Africa tied with Bangladesh at 1-3 each. And the Windies sit in last place with a 1-5-1 record.
Game Time Information
The first test between South Africa and the West Indies is at Queen’s Park Oval. The Port of Spain match begins on August 7 and lasts until August 11. The start time is 10:00 AM local, the same as EDT. The second test happens August 15-19 at Providence Stadium in Providence, Guyana.
Weather for days one and two shows clear skies and hot heat in the upper 80s to low 90s. However, days three through five predict a high chance of rain in the early afternoon. The possibility of a drawn match is a real concern for cricket fans. Expect temperatures again in the high 80s, making for a humid second half of the competition.
South Africa vs. West Indies 1st Test Fantasy Report
Predicted Playing XI
South Africa Squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain), Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs.
West Indies Squad:
Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Da Silva (wicketkeeper), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales.
Pitch Report
Built in 1896, Queen’s Park Oval is the oldest professional stadium in the Caribbean. The picturesque Port of Prince stadium is traditionally a batter-friendly pitch. However, its slow surface makes playing long shots difficult in Test matches. Look for slow bowlers to control the pace of the game. The team that wins the coin toss will likely want to bowl first.
Betting Odds
In the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship season, England recently swept the Windies 3-0. And South Africa split their series with second-place India. The West Indies squad is rebuilding, which plays a factor in who wins this match. Expect Temba Bavuma’s South Africa squad to take this game with consistent scoring and reliable bowling. But don’t be surprised if this match is drawn due to rain.
South Africa vs West Indies Player Picks
Top Batters
Start Windies opening batter and captain Kraigg Brathwaite. Ranked 41 in the world, the skipper is the best batter for the West Indies. Wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva is the team’s second- highest-ranked test batter. For South Africa, ranked number 18 in the world, captain Temba Bavuma is the only batter breaking into the Top 20. David Bedingham is another reliable South African batter, averaging 49.57 runs per innings.
Top Bowlers
The Windies struggle behind the bat, but they struggle more when bowling. However, bowler Jayden Seales and all-rounder Jason Holder are bright spots for the West Indies. Holder is also the third-best batter on the Caribbean squad. When it comes to bowling, South Africa has almost endless choices. Fantasy managers should play Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada without question.
South Africa vs West Indies Fantasy XI
Captains
- Kraigg Brathwaite
- Temba Bavuma
Batters
- Mikyle Louis
- Aiden Markram
- David Bedinghman
Wicketkeeper
- Joshua Da Silva
Bowlers
- Lungi Ngidi
- Kagiso Rabada
- Jayden Seales
All-Rounders
- Jason Holder
- Kavem Hodge
Final Thoughts
Fantasy managers, lean your teams toward South Africa. The Proteas bowlers are superior, and team captain Temba Bavuma should score at will. Although the West Indies are in a transitional period, there are some reliable players. Play Brathwaitte, Holder, and Seales. Expect South Africa to take this Test match, if the rain holds.
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