The Proteas have brought back left-arm chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi into the starting line-up for the crucial Tri-Nation ODI against the West Indies in St Kitts.
Shamsi is one of two changes to the team that lost to Australia last Saturday, with fit-again all-rounder Chris Morris bolstering the batting in his return from a hamstring injury.
Morris comes in for Kyle Abbott, while Shamsi replaces left-arm finger spinner Aaron Phangiso, who is a bit unlucky to miss out after performing well so far in the tournament.
The West Indies are fielding an unchanged team.
“We’re spoilt for choice in our bowling. Phangi has been bowling well, but we’re going with the extra wrist-spinning option in Shamsi, with Morris replacing Abbott,” De Villiers said.
West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and decided to bowl first, so the Proteas will be under pressure to post a sizable total in excess of 260 if they hope to be competitive, after the Windies chased down a 266-run target against Australia on Monday at the same Warner Park ground.
“It would’ve been difficult to choose (what to do), it looks like a good wicket,” De Villiers said. “We probably would’ve fielded first. But I’m not too unhappy as it’s a good opportunity for our batters to cash in here.”
The match starts at 7pm SA time on Wednesday.
Teams For St Kitts
West Indies: Johnson Charles, André Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder (captain), Sunil Narine, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (captain), JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir.
@IndyCapeSport