JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – West Indies were scheduled to hold their first training session in Centurion yesterday, as they beef up preparations for the first Test against South Africa, starting on Wednesday.
The players from the Caribbean were slated to take part in a full session at Supersport Park, the venue for the first Test.
West Indies are coming off an impressive outing in the three-day warm-up match which finished on Friday, where their batsmen excelled against an Invitational XI in Benoni.
Top order batsman Marlon Samuels smashed a more-than-run-a-ball double century while opener Devon Smith, a late call-up as a replacement for the injured Chris Gayle, stroked 174, as West Indies piled up 508 in their first innings.
Rookie left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell, who arrived here a week after the squad and just a few days before the tour match, grabbed five wickets to blow away the hosts for 125.
Rain washed out Friday’s final day, robbing the Windies of valuable match practice in what is the only tour match of the series.
West Indies have never beaten South Africa at home and have won just one of their last 14 Tests against the Proteas, losing nine.
Pundits are expecting a one-side series with West Indies ranked number eight in the ICC Test rankings and South Africa dominating the top spot. (CMC)