The Proteas have won the toss and have elected to bat first, in their first-ever day-night cricket encounter in the third Test against Australia.
History has already been made, but even more history could be made come the end of this third Test in Adelaide.
The Proteas have wrapped up their third consecutive away series against Australia, and another win here would mark Australia’s first series whitewash defeat. It’s a remarkable record they’ve been able to hold on to, but it’s anyone’s guess as to whether they will from here.
For all the buildup to this Test revolving around the ball-tampering allegations against skipper Faf du Plessis, the Proteas will now have their mind set firmly on winning this match. They opted to go for one change, handing Tabraiz Shamsi his debut at the expense of Keshav Maharaj. Shamsi offers a more attacking option, and he’s been difficult to pick using the pink ball.
Australia are almost going to be an unknown entity, for they’ve made no less than five changes to their side, with three uncapped batsmen coming into the starting XI. Opener Matt Renshaw moves in for Joe Burns, while exciting middle-order batsmen Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson come in for the out-of-sorts Adam Voges and the unfortunate Callum Ferguson.
There are two more replacements, as Peter Nevill makes way for Matthew Wade, who will be sure to add some spice behind the wicket, while Jackson Bird comes in for Joe Mennie.
Click here for Tom Sizeland’s preview.
SOUTH AFRICA: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.
AUSTRALIA: Matt Renshaw, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.
Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
