South Africa's main bowlers are Shaun Pollock, Alan Donald, Makaya Ntini and perhaps Nicky Boje, but they can be helped considerably by Jaques Kallis and Lance Klusener. So South Africa's attack, while it might be just, man for man, less threatening than Australia's, at least they can field five, maybe six proper bowlers. That is worrying for the West Indies. Stuart and Garrick. King and Chanderpaul have now proved their fitness against England A and Jamaica, and have been selected for the Test.
Fitness is the vital key here.
Chanderpaul, while he did not score heavily against Jamaica, at least looked much more mobile in the second innings of the England A game. It is imperative that he remains fit, as his batting was sorely missed in Australia when he was ruled out of the tour after the First Test with a foot injury. Garrick, with 25 against Guyana two days ago, failed, by his standards, and just missed out to Gayle and Hinds for the First Test. The pressures will be on the selected openers, though, to produce, as Garrick has played so well this year that he must be a very strong contender for future opening spots. At least, Gayle and Hinds, getting great hundreds against Guyana on Saturday last, are in superb form.