Overview
- Australia won the toss at St George’s Park on Sunday and elected to bowl first, selecting four pace bowlers and bringing Scott Boland into the XI while omitting veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.
- South Africa confirmed on Sunday that fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to play after a hamstring tear and will lead their pace unit.
- Marques Ackerman makes his Test debut and Matthew Breetzke returns to the side while Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj were dropped from the Proteas XI.
- Cameron Green remains unavailable with an abdominal strain and Australia reported Josh Inglis as close to fitness, factors that shaped the visitors’ decision to go with an all-seam attack on a green, overcast wicket.
- Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 214-run win in Durban and rain forecasts for the opening days mean conditions and lost overs could be decisive for the match result and series outcome.