After the World T20, West Indies will play host to a full-fledged tour from South Africa starting Wednesday. South Africa will play the first of their games against West Indies and it will be a T20I to be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

West Indies and South Africa sides will be involved in a two T20I, five ODI and three Test match series, and will go into the first game with rather forgettable memories of the World T20. Both sides won only one game in the Super Eight stage and crashed out of the tournament and came in for a heavy criticism. Stan James offers 8/11 for South Africa to win the game, as compared to 5/4 (Bet Fred) if West Indies triumph.

South Africa’s biggest issue during the World T20 was their batting and the way they had left too much for the end overs. There have been no major changes to their side except that Herschelle Gibbs has made way for Hashim Amla (4/1 at Bet Fred) and a new face in David Miller (12/1 at Bet Fred to top-score for his side) has come into the reckoning. However, most importantly , all eyes will be on the way Graeme Smith (3/1 at Sky Bet) and Jacques Kallis (11/4 at Bet Fred, both to be the best batsmen for their side) bounce back from the criticism that they had received during the World T20 and get the scorecard moving at the top of the innings.

One also feels that Loots Bosman (4/1 at Sky Bet) hasn’t got the chances he deserves in this format of the game, and the two games could just see him blossom if he is allowed to.

The West Indian team is also, almost unchanged, but will be tested by the South African quicks through the course of the tour. Ladbrokes offers 5/2 for Chris Gayle to end as the best batsman for West Indies in the game, but the side needs much more than only a Gayle to win the game. Dwayne Bravo (8/1 at Ladbrokes) is the vice-captain of the side and needs to take up much more batting responsibility to live up to his all-rounder’s tag, but most importantly, the West Indian side needs run in the middle of the innings.

This means that Denesh Ramdin (16/1 at Paddy Power) cannot bat as high as he does, and an Andre Fletcher (5/1 at Bet Fred) and Kieron Pollard (9/1 at Sky Bet, all to top-score for their side) should be afforded more time at the crease to be able to get set.

Tips:
Favourites: South Africa (8/11 at Stan James)
Top South African batsman: Graeme Smith (3/1 at Sky Bet)
Top West Indian batsman: Dwayne Bravo (8/1 at Ladbrokes)