Wavell Hinds averages 48 in Tests for the West Indies

Hinds is in South Africa with the West Indies squad and joins us on the eve of the first Test in Johannesburg.

The 27-year-old left-hander has been capped 35 times at Test level and hopes to help his team-mates erase memories of a disastrous tour of South Africa in 2001.

Listen to Wavell Hinds answering your questions

How do you see the present West Indies team? Do they have what it takes to defeat the South Africans?
Sheraaz, the Netherlands

My team is a bunch of young guys with a great leader in Brian Lara and we are trying to mould ourselves together and are looking to continue what we started in the home series against Australia.

We are aiming not to lose any Test matches this season as we mature together.

I think the South Africans are far ahead of us in terms of experience.

But with the hunger we have for this game and because of our track record - not being so good on the road - I think we will be doing everything we can to start the first match on a high note.

What are your personal objectives for the South Africa tour?
Dale Allen, Cayman Islands

I am trying to be as consistent as possible at the top of the order.

My duty with my fellow opener Chris Gayle is to try always to get our team off to a good start.

Once we get in we try to carry on as quickly and as long as possible to lay down a foundation for the batters who come in after us.

Wavell, what's been your biggest and proudest achievement to date and what do you hope to achieve later in your career?
Phil Lloyd-Bushell, England

My biggest achievement to date is getting the man-of-the-series award against Pakistan at home - that was my first series.

The Pakistan bowling attack had five out-and-out match-winners in Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed.

All those bowlers are world-beaters and I was able to come out on top of them.

My second best achievement was getting the man-of-the-series award against Australia in the one-dayers back home.

My objectives for the future are to be a consistent performer for the West Indies, winning games home and away and bringing glory back to the region.

Who is the most difficult bowler you have ever faced?
Lee Parker, England

Without guessing or second guessing, it should be Wasim Akram.

You have been opening for the West Indies for a while. Is opening the batting your favourite position or do you prefer to bat lower in the order?
Kirtus Best, Houston, Texas, USA

Most people would not know that while playing under-19 cricket opening was always my position.

Since I have been elevated to the senior team of West Indies I have been up and down the order but I think I have been more productive opening when I have been left there on a consistent basis.

I think I am liking the job now and I have accepted the responsibilities enough. I think I am doing myself justice at the moment as an opener.

Do you think that cricket is as popular now in the West Indies as it was back in the 1980s? If not, do you think the West Indies Cricket Board could be doing more to promote the game in the region?
Brian Gonourie, Trinidad

I don't think cricket is as popular back home now as it was in the 1980s because coverage of other sports which create interest worldwide has taken its impact on West Indies cricket.

Having said that I think it remains the most popular sport at home and I think most definitely more can be done to promote the game and elevate it to its heights and make it come across as something pleasurable and enjoyable.

I think the powers that be are definitely in a position to make it better than it is right now.

How do you rate the current England side under Michael Vaughan ahead of the forthcoming tour of England to the West Indies?
Steven Bird, England

I think they are a formidable team with a mix of experience and some youngsters coming through.

From what I have read in the papers there are a bunch of young fast bowlers who bowl between 85 and 90mph which is not bad at all.

I think they are a formidable team and there should be no complacency when we play them.

Who is your cricketing idol?
Akeel Mahmood

Clive Lloyd - My reasons are that he was obviously a great leader for the region and he earned respect both on and off the field for his demeanour and his mannerisms on the field.

As his career progressed he got better and that is always a very good sign of a strong character and a great personality.

Where do you feel is the most enjoyable place to play cricket?
Steven James, UK

Obviously everyone would say home, but from an out-of-out cricketing point of view Australia is the perfect place to play a cricket game.

The buzz is always there, the support for cricket is always there and when you are performing well they acknowledge it.

The conditions and the facilities are superb.

Have you ever considered or been offered a contract in English county cricket?
Chris Moss, England

I have never been offered a county cricket contract but I have considered playing there and I have left my options open for an opportunity.

There was a recent discussion as to who was the greatest West Indies batsman out of Brian Lara and Sir Viv Richards. What is your view? And how do you think they compare with other great West Indian batsmen of the past like Sobers and Headley?
Dave, UK

I think the game has grown over the years.

I must pay respect to the greats from the past. Those guys were obviously pioneers of West Indies cricket and Sir Viv Richards did some great things on the field.

But I've seen a lot of Brian Lara in the most difficult conditions and he has performed at his best against the top bowlers in the world

In his 98 Test matches so far I think he has performed superbly and I take my hat off to Lara to say he's the best I've seen.

What is it like trying to live up to the expectation of all the fans in the Windies who hang on to memories of the Haynes/Greenidge opening partnerships?
Neil Bennett, England

It's obviously a very big task.

The responsibilities are very high and as you know cricket is more than just a recreational pastime, it's more like a religion in the Caribbean. It's a unifying force over there.

To fill the boots of those two legends is very difficult but me and Chris have gone about that task manfully and we will try to be as effective as we can.