Tamba Bavuma set to make Test debut for South Africa against West Indies

Temba Bavuma is set to make is Test debut for South Africa in the second Test with the West Indies at Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day.

Bavuma, 24, is next in line if South Africa continue a policy of seven batsmen and four specialist bowlers.

A vacancy for another batsman was created by an injury to wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock which led to AB de Villiers keeping wicket in Centurion, a role which he is set to continue.

Bavuma is the sixth ethnic black cricketer to play in a Test for South Africa and the first batsman.

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In almost 23 years of Test cricket since a united cricket board was admitted to the International Cricket Council in 1991, cricket officials have been trying to increase the number of Test players from South Africa's largest racial group.

Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who took 390 wickets in 101 Tests, is the only black African to have held down a long-term place in the Test team.

Next best is Monde Zondeki, who played in six Tests, while Lonwabo Tsotsobe played in five and Mfuneko Ngam and Thami Tsolekile in three each – none of them batsman.

The hosts went with an all-pace attack in the first Test victory at Centurion, where South Africa won by an innings and 220 runs.

The pitch at Port Elizabeth is considerably less bouncy, and both sides are expected to field a spinner. In the absence of the injured Robin Peterson, the Proteas are likely to field leg-spinner Imran Tahir, with Kyle Abbott set to make way.

Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis said: "I think conditions like this will probably bring them (West Indies) more into the game, it will be more even conditions.

"Centurion was seaming and if our bowlers get a wicket like that they are dangerous. The PE wicket is a lot slower and spin does play more of a role so I think their bowling attack will be a lot happier.

"Their batting unit will also be happier, the ball will probably not be as quick and won't seam around, it will be a normal PE wicket, so it will suit their style of play."

We know we are much better than we showed at Centurion

The West Indies have won just once in 13 Test in South Africa, and it came in Port Elizabeth back in 2007.

Three of the current squad played significant roles, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (104) and Marlon Samuels (94) the mainstays of a strong first innings, while fast bowler Jerome Taylor had match figures of 6-112.

Chanderpaul played down the significance of conditions at St George's Park.

"We know we are much better than we showed at Centurion," said Chanderpaul but he acknowledged the difficulties of taking on what he described as "the best bowling attack in the world".

"The guys we have here are the best in the Caribbean, that's the reason why they're here. They've all scored runs in the past, scored a lot of hundreds in regional cricket."

Chanderpaul and Samuels will again be key players in what appears to be a fragile West Indian batting order. Both will be seeking to improve on their performances in Centurion where Samuels made 33 and 17, while Chanderpaul was out for 21 and four.

Dale Steyn, who took 6-34 in the second innings at Centurion, has taken 21 wickets in four Tests in Port Elizabeth and warned that although the pitch was slower, he could be effective because he is not especially tall.

"I'm a bit skiddier so when I bowl a bouncer guys tend to play a little bit more whereas at Centurion guys can get out of the way because of the bounce,” he said.

Earlier this year, Steyn produced a match-winning spell of fast reverse swing bowling against Australia at St George's Park.

Watch the second Test live on Sky Sports 2, with coverage from 8.25am on Boxing Day.