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You are in: In Depth: West Indies v South Africa |
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Thursday, 8 March, 2001, 15:12 GMT
Proteas blossom as Windies stumble
 Allan Donald celebrates removing Brian Lara
When South Africa played their first ever Test match in the West Indies in 1992 their opponents were holding off a challenge from Australia for the right to be called the world's best.
The visitors put up a good fight and took the match to the wire, but were eventually overcome by the home side as predicted. Nine years later the fortunes of the two sides as they prepare to meet again in the Caribbean could not be more contrasting. The Proteas have won six of their last seven series - the West Indies are coming off a string of heavy defeats. For five years after their first Test encounter the two countries enjoyed similar records with South Africa winning eight out of 11 series and the West Indies seven out of 12. Traumatic years The pivotal moment in the shift of fortunes came in 1997 when they toured Pakistan in succession, each playing a three match series. South Africa toured first and, like England, pulled off a sensational victory in the final Test after the first two were drawn, as Pakistan failed to chase a modest last innings 147 to win.
The result could not have been more different when the West Indies visited a month later and were crushed 3-0, losing by an innings in the first two Tests and by 10 wickets in the last. Since then South Africa have been riding high with nine wins and two draws from their last 12 series and are considered to be the second most powerful Test nation, not far behind Australia. The West Indies, however, have suffered a traumatic last three years, losing four of their last seven series including two 5-0 whitewashes, and have won just two. South Africa was the venue of the first of those 5-0 drubbings in 1998/9, and after suffering the same fate in their last series in Australia, the West Indies are reeling. All to prove The defeats against Australia, and before that, England, are the first back-to-back losses they have suffered since defeats by England in 1969 followed by a home series loss to India in 1970/1. The only point in the West Indies favour is their home advantage where they have not been beaten since a narrow 1-2 defeat by Australia in 1995. In their last three home series they have defeated England and Zimbabwe and drawn with Australia. But South Africa return to the Caribbean as the team best equipped to challenge Australia for the top spot and the West Indies find themselves in the position of having it all to prove.
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