Van Zyl, Behardien tussle for SA Test spot

Mon, Dec 1, '14

Stiaan van Zyl or Farhaan Behardien could be in line for a Test debut as South Africa seek to replace the recovering JP Duminy for the first Test against West Indies later this month. Duminy, who bats at No.7 in the longest format and has been out of action since late October, is only expected to recover from a knee niggle in time for the Boxing Day Test and will likely play in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

The three matches are South Africa's only Tests this summer and their first at home since Graeme Smith's retirement in March. They also present South Africa with an opportunity to extend the team's lead at the top of the Test rankings, which makes team selection for the series crucial. South Africa are currently ranked No.1 and any margin of victory over West Indies will keep them there, regardless of how Australia perform against India