West Indies and South Africa may turn to spin for Fourth Test

A win in Antigua and the Cable and Wireless series belongs to South Africa, in the process becoming only the second side in 27 years to win a series in the West Indies.

So important has this game become, that a local businessman has put up $100,000 incentive for the West Indies to square the series at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John's.

It is not a prospect which concerns South African captain Shaun Pollock. "We are going out to win," Pollock said.

"We enjoy playing positive cricket. We try and win at all times. That's how we will approach the game. We are 1-0 up in the series, but we can clinch the series if we can win the game here," Pollock said.

While the home side ponder whether to bring in Shivnarine Chanderpaul to bolster their batting and the merits of playing left-arm spinner Neil McGarrel as a foil to Dinanath Ramnarine's leg spin, the South Africans look likely to make a change of their own.

Strike bowler Allan Donald has given little indication that he will be fully recovered from his hamstring injury by Friday. In fact, noises from the South African camp have already indicated a desire to ensure his fitness for the Fifth Test rather than risk him here in Antigua.

So who to replace Donald? Like for like would mean a run-out for the man who so famously felled him, Andre Nel, but that would appear the least likely option. Nel may bowl as fast as Donald, but that is where the comparison ends.

Justin Kemp already has one Test to his name (against Sri Lanka at Centurion in January this year) and offers his captain an even longer batting order, as well as brisk medium pace with the ball.

Kemp suffered a freak injury on a boating trip before the Barbados Test, ripping a chunk out of his left ankle. Although he says it is not bothering him when he bowls ("They breed them tough in the Eastern Cape," he joked) the wound is far from healed.

Which leaves Paul Adams. The highly unorthodox left-arm spinner is approaching 100 wickets in Tests and yet will be an unknown quantity to several West Indian batsmen. With the pitch expected to be prepared to suit Ramnarine's leg-spin, Adams provides the South Africans with an attacking spin option of their own.

These are interesting times indeed. Who could have predicted the prospect of a Test Match between the West Indies and South Africa being decided by their respective spin attacks?