THE WEST Indies and South Africa resume their battle in the Digicel 2005 Test series at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad today with the betting so close as to who will emerge the winner and take the lead in the four-match contest for the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy that it is almost a dead heat. Unlike the first Test at Bourda when it was overwhelmingly in favour of South Africa, this time the betting, it appears, is evenly spread with hardly anyone believing it will end in a draw. Going into the first Test at Bourda, the odds were heavily in favour of South Africa, not only because the West Indies were short of three of their top batsmen, including world record holder Brian Lara, not only because the Windies bowling appeared weak, and not only because of the impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board and the players that many believed would have knocked out whatever fight there was in the home team which, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in charge, was being led by a new captain. The odds were also stacked in South Africa's favour because of their impressive record against the West Indies ­ a record that read, at the time, 10 victories out of 15 matches with only two losses. Also, because of their brilliance in the field and because of a batting line-up that included Jacques Kallis ­ the big right-hander who, up to then, had smashed five centuries in matches against the West Indies. Kallis batted so brilliantly during his sixth century in 11 innings, Test and one-day, against the West Indies during the Windies last tour to South Africa that Lara was quoted as saying, "It was the best batting in a series, Test or one-dayers, that I have, in my playing career, ever witnessed." RUNS PILE UP At the start of the first Test, however, the West Indies won the toss, confidently went to bat, and then proceeded, without Lara, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and after losing two quick wickets, to pile up 543 for five with Wavell Hinds blasting 213 and Chanderpaul stroking 203 not out. And that was not all. After posting their highest total against South Africa, after enjoying the luxury of declaring the innings closed, the West Indies, thanks to Pedro Collins, Daren Powell and Reon King, routed the Proteas for 188 and, in what must have been an embarrassing experience for captain Graeme Smith, sent them to bat again. Although the West Indies, who dropped two vital catches on the final morning, failed to win the match, they were brilliant for four days. In saving the match, mainly through the efforts of Kallis, who hit his 21st Test century and his sixth against the West Indies, and Herschelle Gibbs, South Africa recovered nicely, and that is why the second Test promises to be close and exciting. Based on the records, however, South Africa still should be favourites. Against them, however, is the fact that Shaun Pollock ­ their best bowler ­ is still missing, and with pacers Makhaya Ntini and Andrew Hall and left-arm spinner Nicky Boje looking far from dangerous, a lot will depend on the big pacer André Nel. SPECIALIST BATSMAN South Africa, it appears, could also do with another specialist batsman, and instead of playing five specialist bowlers ­ four pacers and one spinner ­ they may be well advised, especially with Kallis around, to leave out one of the pacers and bring in Ashwell Prince at number six. Although the records favour South Africa, the West Indies are now dangerous. With Lara, Gayle and Sarwan expected to join Wavell Hinds and Chanderpaul, the West Indies top order is experienced and it looks solid, after that it will be the impressive Donovan Pagon who has replaced Ryan Hinds who is ill, then it should be wicketkeeper Courtney Browne, and in the absence of a spinner in the squad, it should be the four pace bowlers ­ Collins, Powell, King and Dwight Washington. There may be a temptation to go in with only three specialist bowlers plus Dwayne Bravo, but before they do that, the West Indies should remember that Bravo is a batting all-rounder, that too many cooks spoil the broth, that every time they have attempted to lengthen the batting it has made no difference and that once the main batsmen bat well, there is no need for a seventh batsman or a batting all-rounder. Apart from the confidence that the selection of a full complement of bowlers will exude, Bennett King, Chanderpaul and company should also remember that their top five batsmen are now all double centurions, that Hinds and Browne are capable batsmen, and that while Chanderpaul did not need a seventh batsman in the first Test, the West Indies may well have won it had they had a fourth specialist bowler to partner Collins, Powell and King. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com