WITH the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches comfortably won against the West Indies, it's now time for the Proteas to turn their attention to a three-Test series beginning today.
WITH the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches comfortably won against the West Indies, it's now time for the Proteas to turn their attention to a three-Test series beginning today.
While the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is renowned for its picturesque setting, it's what takes place within the boundary ropes that will be of concern to coach Corrie van Zyl and captain Graeme Smith.
And while the team and management would have savoured the 5-0 whitewash in the one-dayers, they have had to refocus on the task at hand.
"We see this series as a fresh start. It is a different format and we need to make sure that we have the focus and discipline," Van Zyl told Sowetan.
"As far as we are concerned we are starting from 0-0 again."
Whereas the West Indies have been mediocre at best recently, the Proteas batsmen have found some good form.
Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers will be hoping the runs keep coming. In a warm-up match earlier this week against a Trinidad XI, which was disrupted by rain, the new additions to the Proteas squad managed to spend some time in the middle. Alviro Petersen had a knock of 65 while Ashwell Prince scored a patient 18 off 40 balls.
With Wayne Parnell injured, responsibility will fall on Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to keep the West Indies batting order in check.
Van Zyl is only too aware that the West Indies team they come up against today are desperate to restore some pride in their game and he'll be hoping it's not at the Proteas' expense.
l The match starts at 4pm and will be televised live on SS2.
Proteas braceD for tests
WITH the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches comfortably won against the West Indies, it's now time for the Proteas to turn their attention to a three-Test series beginning today.
WITH the one-day series and the Twenty20 matches comfortably won against the West Indies, it's now time for the Proteas to turn their attention to a three-Test series beginning today.
While the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is renowned for its picturesque setting, it's what takes place within the boundary ropes that will be of concern to coach Corrie van Zyl and captain Graeme Smith.
And while the team and management would have savoured the 5-0 whitewash in the one-dayers, they have had to refocus on the task at hand.
"We see this series as a fresh start. It is a different format and we need to make sure that we have the focus and discipline," Van Zyl told Sowetan.
"As far as we are concerned we are starting from 0-0 again."
Whereas the West Indies have been mediocre at best recently, the Proteas batsmen have found some good form.
Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers will be hoping the runs keep coming. In a warm-up match earlier this week against a Trinidad XI, which was disrupted by rain, the new additions to the Proteas squad managed to spend some time in the middle. Alviro Petersen had a knock of 65 while Ashwell Prince scored a patient 18 off 40 balls.
With Wayne Parnell injured, responsibility will fall on Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to keep the West Indies batting order in check.
Van Zyl is only too aware that the West Indies team they come up against today are desperate to restore some pride in their game and he'll be hoping it's not at the Proteas' expense.
l The match starts at 4pm and will be televised live on SS2.