The Proteas’ fast bowlers will play a big role in their tour of the West Indies after all.
Expecting spin-friendly conditions in the Caribbean, the South African camp was pleasantly surprised by the seam-friendly conditions that greeted them in a warm-up match ahead of Thursday’s first Test against their hosts.
Bowling coach Charl Langeveldt explains: “We haven’t played in a rainy season – this is their rainy season. When we came here on tour normally it would be a lot warmer, dryer surfaces.
“And we used to play with Kookaburra [balls], now we’re playing with Dukes. With the Duke there’s a lot of movement, seam movement off the wicket and it stays harder for longer.
“Ball maintenance is key, if you look after it, obviously we can’t use saliva now, but we need to find a way to shine the ball. It could be beneficial to us.
“The key for us in warm-up games is to see how conditions are, because previously it has been different when we tour here.”
Langeveldt is confident that they have the right balance in their squad, adding: “Everyone is different… The key for us is to get used to the surface.”