ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — West Indies have been scheduled to play only three Tests against South Africa in the Caribbean next year, as their quantity of matches against high profile opposition continues to dwindle.

In fixtures unveiled yesterday by the West Indies Cricket Board, the Caribbean side will engage the Proteas in Tests in Jamaica, St Kitts and Barbados, in a tour that starts May 17.

The last time South Africa toured the Caribbean in 2005, they played four Tests in a series West Indies lost 2-0. It means the hosts will play a lowly three Tests for the entire 2010.

However, they will have a sumptuous diet of the game’s shortest forms as they clash with Zimbabwe in a five-match One-Day International series starting February 28 and also play hosts to the ICC World Twenty20 Championship which runs from April 30 to May 16 and bridges the South African series.

West Indies will also do battle against the South Africans in five ODIs and a solitary Twenty20 International.

The Caribbean side’s has continued to secure shorter series, in the face of their own declining popularity and an increasingly hectic international schedule.

Last year, they hosted the Australians for just three Tests and earlier this year, England toured on a scheduled four-Test tour.

Currently, West Indies are playing only three Tests Down Under, as was the case in 2005 when they were whitewashed in another shortened series.

South Africa last played a five-Test series in the Caribbean in 2001 when they beat West Indies 2-1.

Next year, West Indies and South Africa will open their series in a T20I at Queens Park Oval on May 19 before the venue also hosts the first two ODIs on May 22 and 24.

The series will move to Dominica where Windsor Park will host matches on May 27 and 30, before Jamaica provides the scene of the final match three days later.

Following a two-day warm-up match at Chedwin Park, the first Test will bowl off at Sabina Park on June 10 with Warner Park in St Kitts taking the second match from June 18-22.

The tour concludes in Barbados with the third and final Test at Kensington Oval, running from June 26-30.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will start their series with a T20I at the Queens Park Oval before playing the two opening ODIs in the National Stadium at Providence in Guyana on March 4 and 6 respectively.

Arnos Vale in St Vincent will hosts the next three matches on March 10, 12 and 14.

No room has been found on the schedule for the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium which was at the centre of the abandoned Test against England earlier this year because of an impaired outfield.

2010 Home Series schedule

ZIMBABWE IN THE WEST INDIES

Feb 23 – arrive in Trinidad

Feb 26 – vs UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI at UWI SPEC

Feb 28 – Twenty20 Int’l at Queens Park Oval, Trinidad

Mar 4 – 1st One-Day Int’l at Providence, Guyana

Mar 6 – 2nd One-Day Int’l at Providence, Guyana

Mar 10 – 3rd One-Day Int’l at Arnos Vale, St Vincent

Mar 12 – 4th One-Day Int’l at Arnos Vale, St Vincent

Mar 14 – 5th One-Day Int’l at Arnos Vale, St Vincent

SOUTH AFRICA IN THE WEST INDIES

May 17 – arrive in Trinidad

May 19 – T20 Int’l at Queen’s Park, Trinidad

May 22 – 1st One-Day Int’l at Queen’s Park, Trinidad

May 24 – 2nd One-Day Int’l at Queen’s Park, Trinidad

May 27 – 3rd One-Day Int’l at Windsor Park, Dominica

May 30 – 4th One-Day Int’l at Windsor Park, Dominica

June 2 – 5th Digicel One-Day Int’l at Sabina Park, Jamaica

June 5-6 – warm-up match at Chedwin Park, Jamaica

June 10-14 – 1st Test Match at Sabina Park, Jamaica

June 18-22 – 2nd Test Match at Warner Park, St Kitts

June 26-30 – 3rd Test Match at Kensington Oval, Barbados