South Africa win toss, to bowl in second test

Coach Russell Dominigo will be delighted by the way the team stepped up in AB de Villiers’ absence, which also helped overcome the failure of Hashim Amla with the bat and Steyn being ruled out due to injury midway through the game. Although, just like Cook, he too had a tough Test out, managing to score just a run; however, he is a class Test opener for South Africa, as the world knows, and would deservedly retain his spot for the second test at Hobart. They will certainly find it a different challenge to the WACA, which offered familiar conditions for both their batsmen and bowlers as well as sizable South African crowd support.

Lehmann is not seen as under the same pressure as Arthur but Smith’s captaincy has come under close scrutiny with former South Africa captain Graeme Smith this week saying that he looked “a bit lost”. Temba Bavuma 7. Quinton de Kock (wk) 8. However, it still outplayed Australia, with Kagiso Rabada stepping up to lead the bowling attack wand JP Duminy and Dean Elgar hitting crucial second-innings centuries that gave South Africa a winning total.

Lehmann and the team’s sports science staff on Thursday issued a firm defence of their system of managing fast bowlers’ workloads, producing figures that show the likes of Starc and Josh Hazlewood are bowling more than their predecessors and that injury rates among quicks have decreased over the years. Usman Khawaja fought for 97.

Australia slipped to 6-31 when Peter Nevill was trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada.

But even though Lyon is Australia’s wicket-taking spinner with 213 victims in 58 Tests since 2011, he could still miss out in Hobart. The balance of their side, with an underperforming Mitchell Marsh at No.6, was again cause for consternation. Adam Voges’ Bradmanesque 2015-16 summer seemed as distant a memory as the summers of Bradman himself.

Down in the series, already questions have been asked of Australia’s preparation.

South Africa has insisted a ball-tampering controversy had been “blown out of proportion” on Friday as it kept its focus on a third straight series win in Australia.

The Proteas won the opening Test by 177 runs after poor batting and string of dropped catches consigned Australia to a fourth successive Test defeat.

Siddle’s injury has opened the door for Joe Mennie to be handed his Test debut after he was the player left out in Perth.

“I’ve never done it (gone into a Test match without a specialist spinner) in my stint as captain”, said Smith.

Philander, who boasted figures of 3-2 early on, was hurt in the 13th over.

Smith and Mennie were the only Australians to reach double figures.

Smith’s underfire side are anxious not to make selection mistakes ahead of the pivotal Hobart game, the second of three Tests, and the 27-year-old captain has several options in mind.

Du Plessis said Maharaj could miss out, meaning Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott come into the XI.

At least two changes will be necessary for Australia, with Shaun Marsh and Peter Siddle both out injured.

With weather around we want to see which combinations to go with.

Callum Ferguson may also get a start in the middle order if Voges does not recover in time from hamstring trouble in the five-day turnaround from Perth.

Marsh’s hopes of playing would plummet should the heavy rain forecast over the weekend arrive Saturday morning and limit the amount of play possible.