West Indies are taking on South Africa at the Wanderers ground in a game with far-reaching implications for the future development of the game in the republic.

Captain Brian Lara won the toss and decided to bat first.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa, headed by Dr Ali Bacher, is working hard to promote cricket in the townships, but there is still concern about the lack of black players in the South African side.

Allan Donald: Spearhead of the home attack

The decision to leave fast bowler Makhaya Ntini out of the home side has not gone down well in some quarters, with spinner Paul Adams the only non-white player in the 12 named for the Test.

"We are really concerned about that and we will probably take the matter up with Dr Bacher after the Test match," said National Sports Council chief executive Mvuso Mbebe.

"We need to find out what the problem is. Maybe it is a selection problem or maybe the provinces aren't giving the players a fair chance to come through."

The tourists come into the match after a turbulent build-up, which began the possibility of the tour being cancelled in a dispute over pay and conditions for the players and ended with defeat in their final warm-up game against Free State.

South African skipper Hansie Cronje scored a match-winning hundred for the state side in Bloemfontein, but expects West Indies to produce their best form in the Tests.

"I've watched them throughout my career and to be able to have the West Indies here for the first time since isolation ended is incredible. It is simply magnificent," he said.

Courtney Walsh: No sign of slowing down

The two sides have met only once before in a Test - with South Africa looking certain winners when the final day's play started in Barbados six years ago. They needed just 79 for victory but devastating fast bowling saw the West Indies collect eight wickets and win the match by 52 runs.

Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh are still in the West Indies pace battery, but South Africa will be looking for Allan Donald to fight fire with fire.

His duels with West Indies skipper Brian Lara promise to be a highlight of the series, but South Africa will be on their guard against allowing the unorthodox Philo Wallace and Clayton Lambert to give the tourists a flying start to their innings.

West Indies included leg-spinner Rawl Lewis in their team, just hours after he arrived to replace Dinanath Ramnarine, while South Africa preferred Pat Symcox to Adams in their final eleven.

South Africa: H Cronje (capt), G Kirsten, A Bacher, J Kallis, D Cullinan, J Rhodes, S Pollock, M Boucher, P Symcox, A Donald, D Terbrugge.