BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CANA:
WEST Indies make an emotional return to their favourite hunting ground Kensington Oval today seeking a victory over South Africa in the third Cable and Wireless cricket Test to square the five-match series.
Beaten but not disgraced in the 50th Golden Test at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago last week, Windies' captain Carl Hooper said they want to rebound immediately.
"It is important that we come back straightaway. We will be very positive. I think what happen in the last game, we were let down a bit by the batting so hopefully in this game we can get that right be able to go one-all," Hooper said after his team's final practice session yesterday.
The West Indies have fond memories of Kensington Oval where they have suffered two of their three Test defeats in the past 60 years to the visiting England and Australian teams in 1994 and 1995.
Among the West Indies' 19 victories in their 36 Tests at the ground is a sensational 52-run triumph over the South Africans in 1992 on their re-entry to the Test arena after being isolated for two decades because of their government's apartheid policies.
South Africa's captain Shaun Pollock said his team was eager to atone for that defeat on the home ground of his mentor, the late West Indies fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
"We did lose that game and hopefully we can turn it around. It is also a special thing that it's Malcolm Marshall's home ground. Obviously, I grew up with him and it will be nice to get up there and play a Test match on it," Pollock said.
Following their come-from-behind 69-run in the second Test in Trinidad and Tobago, Pollock said they will be looking to extend their lead in the series instead of playing it safe.
"We are not looking to really protect (the 1-0 lead). You got to move on. I think you've got to try and be positive and try and aim for a two-nil lead after this game," Pollock said.
West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ridley Jacobs, Courtney Walsh, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy and Dinanath Ramnarine.
South Africa (from) - Shaun Pollock (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Boeta Dippenaar, Paul Adams, Andre Nel, Justin Kemp.