South Africa will begin their six-match ODI tri-series (with the potential of it being seven should they reach the final) against the West Indies on Friday. The Caribbean jamboree, which stretches across June, will see all teams play each other thrice at three different venues in the Caribbean – Guyana, St Kitts and Barbados – before concluding with the final in Bridgetown on 26 June.

For all intents and purposes, this is a largely meaningless series. It does not serve as a warm-up to a Test series in the region and there is no looming World Cup or other major trophy event for which it might provide a build-up and insight into form. Rankings in the one-day format mean little to Test playing nations and while there is a Champions Trophy next year, South Africa have already qualified.

But beyond the meaningless waffle, this series does and should matter to the Proteas. The series against England feels like it concluded aeons ago now, but it’s only been three months. In that series, South Africa clawed their way back from 0-2 down to win 3-2, an incredible effort under pressure. This series will be an indication of just how far this team has come – and possibly how far it still needs to go – before next year’s Champions Trophy. It’s not exactly Test cricket, but it’s something worth keeping an eye on.

Feeling the pressure

Public support for the Proteas has wilted in the last few months. Between being dumped out of the World T20 in the group stages and slumping to sixth in the Test rankings, there is serious pressure on the team to do something great. While winning a hit-and-giggle tri-series probably isn’t at the top of the fans’ wish list, it certainly won’t do any harm.

In the one-day series against England earlier in the year, they showed that they can absorb and transfer pressure in crunch situations. They need to do more of that, especially now that the squad for this series is the one that is building towards the Champions Trophy in England this year and possibly even the next World Cup.

Letting the good batting times roll

Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis make for an intimidating batting line-up and all will be expected to fire in this series. David Miller has been given the boot so Rilee Rossouw and Farhaan Behardien will have to play their part and make a name for themselves, particularly if the big four fail.

The next generation of bowlers can step up

Dale Steyn will play no part in this series, so it’ll be up to the mercurial Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott to lead the pace pack from the front. Morne Morkel also adds experience while Chris Morris has a chance to find some consistency. Wayne Parnell returns to the mix after an impressive series with the Cobras. Parnell has never fulfilled his potential, but his left-arm variation means he can be truly valuable if he can live up to what has been expected of him all these years.

A dawn of South African spin?

South Africa have included three spinners in their squad for the series. Usual suspects Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso are likely to play important roles on the slow tracks of the Caribbean, but the Proteas also have a new face in their midst.

Tabraiz Shamsi, the 26-year old Titans spinner, became a fan favourite on these very shores during last year’s Caribbean Premier League when he took 11 wickets at an average of 13.27 in seven games. While most of South Africa’s squad should be familiar with the conditions in the Caribbean, Shamsi’s knowledge will be invaluable and he could very well muscle his way into the starting XI.

South Africa’s spin cupboard is fully stocked at the moment – a far cry from the situation just five years ago – so there is no better time for another rookie to gain experience than in conditions that he has thrived in.

Oh captain, my captain

We all know that AB de Villiers is a bit of a freak with the bat. He has proven that time and time again in all formats of the game and put in a few mindboggling performances in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. There is no doubt that De Villiers will play a key role in the batting line-up, but what of his captaincy?

De Villiers, who succeeded Hashim Amla as Test captain earlier this year, has been in charge of the one-day side for much longer and has often struggled with the menial tasks of sticking over-rates and being cunning in the use of his bowlers. While judging such a freakishly talented player too harshly would be nothing short of foolish, De Villiers’ captaincy will be under just a bit of pressure going into this series, especially if the rain plays its part. DM

Photo: Players shaking hands after the game during the 2016 ICC World T20 cricket match between South Africa and West Indies at Vidharbha Cricket Association, Jamtha, India on 25 March 2016 ©BackpagePix