South Africa have a new coach and West Indies a new captain when they begin a three-match one-day international series at Buffalo Park in East London on Thursday.
Home team coach Rob Walter and West Indies captain Shai Hope will both be looking for a winning formula at the start of a crucial period for both teams in the lead-up to the Cricket World Cup in India in October and November.
READ ALSO: SA v West Indies ODI series: Five players to watch
Neither South Africa nor the West Indies are guaranteed a place in cricket’s showpiece event as they enjoy eighth and ninth positions in the International Cricket Council World Cup Super League.
The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup – the others must survive the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July.
South Africa could overtake the West Indies – and both could be beaten by Sri Lanka – as the Super League ends early next month.
The series which starts on Thursday will not count towards qualification as it is outside the Super League programme.
Sides look new
Both teams will be much-changed from the side that played in the Test series won 2-0 by South Africa.
Only four South Africans played in Tests, including captain Temba Bavuma.
The other three, fast bowler Gerald Coetzee and batsman Tony de Zorzi, who both made their Test debuts in the recent series, and Ryan Rickelton, are yet to play in one-day internationals.
Injuries kept out Wiaan Mulder and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was originally selected.
Read more: Parnell, Shamsi added to Proteas ODI squad as Mulder, Maharaj ruled out
Walter will be in charge for the first time since being appointed last month. He has worked with the South African team as a strength and conditioning coach but has spent seven years coaching in New Zealand.
He has made changes to his support staff, including the appointment of former national players JP Duminy and Rory Kleinveldt as batting and bowling coaches.
Hope, 29, was appointed West Indies captain after Nicholas Pooran stepped down as white-ball captain following last year’s T20 World Cup. Pooran is still part of the squad.
Hope has an impressive one-day record, averaging 48.95 from 104 one-day internationals. He captained Barbados in the regional 50-overs competition last year.
Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alazarri Joseph and Kyle Mayers played in Tests.
The first two matches will be played at Buffalo Park, which has not hosted a one-day international since Bangladesh played there in October 2017. Since then there have been two T20 internationals, most recently against England in February 2020.
shift
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (capt), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams, Rassie van der Dussen.
West Indies: Shai Hope (captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keecy Carty, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith .
Schedule
March 16, East London (day-night)
March 18, East London (day-night)
March 21, Potchefstroom (day)