Captain Temba Bavuma excited as South Africa start new era with Test series against West Indies
- Nasri Alexander
- 27 February 2023
Newly appointed South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma says his team will start on a clean slate when they take on the West Indies in a two-match series from Tuesday.
Bavuma has replaced Dean Elgar has skipper in the longest format while Shukri Conrad takes the reins in his first series since being Proteas Test coach.
There are also a few new faces in squad with batter Tony de Zorzi earning his maiden call-up while bowler Gerald Coetzee could also make his debut in the first Test starting in Centurion.
"I think it's exciting times for all the guys involved," Bavuma told reporters on Monday. "It's the start of a new journey.
"We'd like to start with a clean slate and really go out there playing the way we want to play. I think you're going to hear me saying that a lot, how we want to go about our business.
"That's the exciting part. I'd like to see how it all looks like on the field of play. We come into the series against the West Indies wanting to win the series and that is what we'll be aiming to do."
Assessing the West Indies, who have never won a series in South Africa and only once beat the hosts back in 2007, Bavuma feels they will still test the Proteas significantly.
Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been a rock at the top of the order while fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel will pose a serious threat to the home side's batters.
Bavuma added: "Looking at West Indies over the last while, they play old-fashioned cricket. Batters grind it out and bowlers are looking to hit their areas outside that off stump.
"They have got guys who can stand up to the challenge and they are well led by Kraigg Brathwaite.
"I think we've prepared as best as we can to play them like we would have done against any other team. They have good bowlers who can get the ball through nicely and that's what you need in a country like South Africa.
"So we know we have our work cut out and we look forward to the challenge that awaits."
