South Africa Aim to Win First Series in 2015

Cape Town: Leading 1-0, South Africa will be aiming to seal the series when they take on West Indies in the third and final Test in Cape Town on Friday.

The Proteas' efforts to close out the series in 2014 was thwarted by rain in the second Test at Port Elizabeth but there is no denying that under the calm leadership of Hashim Amla, they are continuing the brand of aggression that was associated with his predecessor Graeme Smith.

There has been a lot of talk about South Africa's spin bowling options ahead of the third Test. Robin Peterson, who is in the squad, has failed to recover from a finger injury, while legspinner Imran Tahir struggled in Port Elizabeth.

The news doing the rounds is that Simon Harmer, the Warriors offspinner, might get a Test debut on Friday.

West Indies, on the other hand, gained some batting positives in Port Elizabeth after the battering they received in Centurion, but the bowling remained a prime concern.

Prior to the series, the Caribbean players were not expected to give the hosts a good run for their money, and they will be heading into the final Test with those perceptions still intact.

The tourists came out slightly better in the second Test thanks to centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels. However, the lower-middle order was blown away by Morkel and the good work was undone.

West Indies have been hurt by Shivnarine Chanderpaul's rare lean run but with plenty still there to play for in the series, the team will be hoping for a Chanderpaul special in Newlands.

The bowlers managed to take just 13 wickets in the first two Tests with the likes of Jerome Taylor, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel having failed to exploit the conditions, and unless they do not find a way to take 20 wickets, the team's struggles will continue.

Teams from:

South Africa: Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (Capt.), AB de Villiers (wk), Stiaan van Zyl, Temba Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Simon Harmer

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Leon Johnson, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (Capt. & wk), Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Peters, Narsingh Deonarine, Chadwick Walton, Sheldon Cottrell, Jermaine Blackwood

Pitch & condition:
Sunny skies with a maximum of 26 degrees.

Stats & trivia:

• Ever since their readmission into cricket in 1992, South Africa have played 27 Tests in Cape Town, winning 18, drawing five and losing four. All four losses have come against Australia.
• Steyn is 11 wickets away from 400 Test wickets.
• Dale Steyn is the leading wicket-taker in Newlands. Out of 12 Tests, he has taken 58 wickets at an average of 21.94.

Match facts
January 2-6, 2015
Start time 1030 local (0800 GMT)