Bird is the word for new-look Australia in Adelaide

Skipper Faf du Plessis put his ball tampering controversy behind him to defy Australia’s bowlers and produce his most satisfying century to leave honours even after first day of the third Test in Adelaide.

Du Plessis, the player of the match on his test debut when he batted the entire last day here to salvage a series-swinging draw in 2012, was 118 not out on Thursday when he chose to end the innings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have expressed disappointment at South Africa captain Faf du Plessis’s decision to lodge an appeal after he was found guilty of a ball-tampering in the second test against Australia.

However an absorbing Test series, which continued in that vein despite South Africa holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, has been overshadowed by the ICC’s sanction against Du Plessis.

The pair steadied the Proteas innings with an unbroken 45-run stand for the fourth wicket.

This was only the second session in day-night Tests when bowlers failed to take a single wicket.

The three incoming batsmen, who earned their caps on the basis of domestic form, will have the added pressure of dealing with the day-night playing conditions at the Adelaide Oval – only the third ever in the pink-ball format.

Handscomb and Renshaw were among the five changes to the Australian XI for the day-night match at the Adelaide Oval after South Africa clinched the series with back-to-back wins in Perth and Hobart.

Warner, who was unable to open the innings because of the time he spent off the field having treatment when South Africa made a daring declaration late on the first day, came in at number three.

Opener Matt Renshaw, one of three new caps brought into the Australia side after heavy defeats in the first two tests, scored 34 not out and brought the hosts level after his captain Steve Smith was dismissed for 40 with only two runs required.

This time, he salvaged the innings with a 164-ball knock that contained 17 boundaries.

CSA’s statement concluded: “As the matter will be subject to further legal process, neither Faf du Plessis nor CSA will make further comment on this matter”.

Handscomb then joined Khawaja in the middle and the duo added 99 runs between them to take Australia past the Proteas’ first innings total.

Once the unsafe Quinton de Kock was removed for five early on the fourth day, South Africa were always under pressure to build a defendable target to bowl at the Australians.

But he was called back to the crease when replays picked up a front-foot no-ball bowled by Starc.

“But that’s all hunky-dory, we’re good to go and ready to play”.