AB de Villiers' international comeback is not going to happen, but Chris Gayle will be there when the West Indies host South Africa this June-July in the Caribbean. De Villiers continued to drop hints for a possible u-turn, but Cricket South Africa ended all speculations by saying that the batting great's retirement would remain final "once and for all". So, that's the end of 37-year-old's international cricket. But Gayle, who is five years senior to de Villiers, will be seen in action when the two teams clash in the five T20 matches. (More Cricket News)
Before that, the Windies will host South Africa in a two-match Test series. The Proteas, who recently hosted Pakistan in April, have already landed in the Caribbean with Dean Elgar leading an inexperienced side. The 19-man squad has two maiden Test call-ups in Prenelan Subrayen and Lizaad Williams. The Windies also handed a call-up to rookie Jayden Seales, who was named in the 17-man provisional squad for the Test series.
Head-to-head
Tests: They have met 28 times in the longest format of the game, with South Africa leading the head-to-head record 18-3. South Africa are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Windies (six wins). Windies last won a Test match against South Africa, way back in 2007 at St George's Park. Their two other wins came in 2001 at Sabina Park and in 1992, in their first-ever meeting, at Kensington Oval.
T20Is: They have played only ten T20Is. South Africa lead the head-to-head record 6-4, but the Windies have won three of their last four meetings.
Test Schedule
1st Test: June 10 to 14 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Match starts at 7:30 PM IST/10:00 AM
2nd Test: June 18 to 22 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Match starts at 7:30 PM IST/10:00 AM
How to watch
TV Channels: Not available in India. SuperSport in South Africa; Flow Sports in the Caribbean.
Live Streaming: FanCode in India. Subscription required.
T20I Schedule
1st T20I: June 26 at National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada. Match starts at 11:30 PM IST/02:00 PM local
2nd T20I: June 27 at National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada. Match starts at 11:30 PM IST/02:00 PM local
3rd T20I: June 29 at National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada. Match starts at 11:30 PM IST/02:00 PM local
4th T20I: July 1 at National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada. Match starts at 11:30 PM IST/02:00 PM local
5th T20I: July 3 at National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada. Match starts at 11:30 PM IST/02:00 PM local
Test Squads
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Darren Bravo, Kieran Powell, Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Joshua Da Silva, Jahmar Hamilton, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican.
South Africa: Dean Elgar (c), Temba Bavuma (vc), Quinton de Kock, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Peterson , Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams , Prenelan Subrayen, Marco Jansen.
T20I Squads
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
