Elgar the irritator back for Hobart Test

Both men watched little of the first Test as they were representing Queensland and South Australia respectively in the second round of the Sheffield Shield.

That South Africa won the first Test at the WACA was in some ways not surprising, for in their previous three Tests at the venue they were unbeaten, and they were accustomed to recent success in Australia, having not lost a series here since 2005-06. Heavy downpours are forecast through to Monday’s third day in Hobart, which doesn’t bode well for Australia as they bid to recover from their 177-run thrashing in Perth – their fourth straight Test defeat.

“If he has said that I’m sure that’s just his personal dig”, South Africa’s opening batsman Dean Elgar said.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis believes resilience is one clear point of difference between Australia and his side.

South Africa, although ranked five in Tests to Australia’s three, were bowled to victory in Perth by electric young paceman Kagiso Rabada, who stepped up when Steyn broke down with the shoulder injury on the second day.

Steven Smith, the captain who has been feeling the heat for his captaincy too, indicated that Adam Voges was fit after some hamstring trouble, but that Australia might play with only four bowlers in this Test.

Australia, who are .20 to win this Test, will have to make at least two changes with Peter Siddle (back) and Shaun Marsh (finger) both ruled out.

This will be the first time since 2004 that South Africa take the field without either Steyn or de Villiers, but with youngsters stepping up, it does not seem like their absence would be an issue.

While the South African batting line-up looks good to pile up runs again, the onus is on the Australian unit, especially their middle order, to deliver in a crunch situation.

They would not want a repeat of the mistakes they did at Perth when they start afresh in Hobart and for that Smith has to make up a few solid plans to counter the Proteas.

“We’ll wait until tomorrow and see what’s happening with the weather”, Smith replied when asked about Marsh’s spot.

Du Plessis, though, hit back on Friday morning in regards to the fact that it was only South Africa who managed to get the ball reversing in Perth.

“He’s come through his fitness test fine so I think he’ll be good to go”, Australia captain Steve Smith said of Voges.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to have ex-players of the calibre of Brad and Ryan on board for this tour and continue their involvement in Australian cricket”, Lehmann said.

“I just read something about the culture and I’m always of the position if you don’t know exactly what’s going on, you can’t comment on that”, du Plessis said. “That’s the nature of the beast if you don’t have success”, he added.

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh/Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Joe Mennie, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.