The Proteas will return to Test action on Tuesday when they take on the West Indies in the first of two Betway Test matches at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

South Africa, who have had a fairly poor run in the Test arena in recent years, will enter the series on the back of a humiliating 2-0 defeat at the hands of Australia last December.

However, a lot has changed since then, as the Test team will for the first time play under the tutelage of Shukri Conrad and be captained by Temba Bavuma, who will become the first black player to captain a South African Test team.

Bavuma will take charge of a fresh, rejuvenated 15-man squad that features the likes of Tony de Zorzi, Gerald Coetzee, and Simon Harmer, and says the side is looking forward to a fresh start.

“We welcomed the new faces in the side and players who have been on the team before,” said Bavuma.

“I think it’s an exciting time for the guys involved; as you said, it’s the start of a new journey, and we’d like to start on a clean slate and go out there and play the way we’d like to play.”

This particular series will serve as an opportunity for South Africa to climb the ICC Test rankings, and Bavuma is adamant that no extra motivation is needed as the team is fully aware of what’s expected.

“I think just having the opportunity to play for the Proteas is motivation enough,” he said.

“It’s another opportunity for the guys to represent the country and to inspire the nation, so there’s no bigger motivation than that.

“Coming into this series against the West Indies, we’ll want to win the series, and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do.”

The 32-year-old is no stranger to captaincy, having previously led the T20 side and currently leading the ODI side. However, Bavuma says he is counting on other leaders in the team to support him.

“In terms of the leaders with the group, some guys have been around playing test cricket for quite a while, and I’ll be leaning on those guys in terms of knowledge and ensuring we all speak the same language in what we’re trying to build.

“I think we have young guys also who are potential leaders within the team; there’s that other responsibility with being a senior player to kind of impart any experience or knowledge you have on those guys.”

The first Test between South Africa and the West Indies will start at 10:00 a.m. at SuperSport Park.

Watch the full press conference below: