Weakened West Indies facing uphill struggle

Although there is still time for the West Indies Cricket Board to resolve the contractual disputes preventing many key players from representing the region, South Africa is a stable and focused side, and whatever team takes the field in Guyana will face a tough challenge. Any side missing players of the talent of Lara, Sarwan and Gayle would feel that loss but the West Indies have proved over the last few years that they do not have great strength in depth and as a result, they go into the match as 13/2 outsiders on bet365. Conversely, the South Africans boast a fairly settled line-up and will expect to take a lead in the series - bet365 rate them as odds-on favourites at 10/11.

In the absence of their captain and vice-captain, West Indies have turned to their most experienced remaining player, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to lead the new-look side. Chanderpaul has by far the best Test average of the young squad and looks to be, both in terms of experience and pedigree, a class above many of his team-mates. Despite the pressure that will undoubtedly be upon him, bet365 rate him at 3/1 favourite to top-score for West Indies and 10/1 to be Man of the Match.

In terms of experience, Wavell Hinds provides the main support to Chanderpaul among the West Indies' top order. Having played 38 Tests in his career to date, Hinds understands the demands of the five-day game and provides a useful option with both bat and ball. He will be regarded very much as a senior batsman in this match and against a South African attack missing the injured Shaun Pollock, he may well play a key role for West Indies.

The South African line-up, on the other hand, is full of top-class batsmen who came out of the one-sided two-Test series against Zimbabwe brimming with confidence. Good examples would be AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith, who both batted confidently in that series and are an excellent bet to score heavily at the top of the innings for South Africa. Smith in particular seems to be in the sort of form to continue what is already an excellent record against the West Indians - in his previous four matches against them, he averages nearly 70, having notched over 400 runs, including two centuries. He is rated at 7/2 by bet365 to be South Africa's leading run-scorer.

bet365 odds
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: Top Team Batsman 3/1 | Man of the Match 10/1
Wavell Hinds: Top Team Batsman 4/1 | Man of the Match 12/1
AB de Villiers: Top Team Batsman 5/1 | Man of the Match 14/1
Graeme Smith: Top Team Batsman 7/2 | Man of the Match 7/1