Australia were undone by steepling bounce and shot selection early on day one of the first Test against South Africa, reaching 3-83 at lunch.

The visitors, sent in on a bouncy Centurion pitch, lost both openers in the first hour of play and debutant Alex Doolan shortly before the first break.

Dale Steyn (1-23) and Vernon Philander (0-19) were typically challenging, but it was beanpole Morne Morkel (1-20) that caused Australia the most trouble.

Introduced into the attack in the ninth over, the six-foot speedster first came up with a rising delivery that cracked Chris Rogers on the shoulder.

Rogers (4) was stoic, but the next ball was similarly short and forced the 36-year-old to play a shot.

He fended it to short leg where JP Duminy snatched a diving catch that reduced Australia to 2-24.

Doolan and Shaun Marsh, batting at No.4 in a reshuffled order, fought back with a 48-run partnership.

It ended when Doolan handed over his wicket to allrounder Ryan McLaren, pulling the ball straight to Robin Peterson at midwicket in search of his sixth boundary.

Earlier, David Warner chopped a ball onto his stumps off Steyn in the fifth over and departed for 12.

Marsh, who only arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday morning, was 23 not out but benefitted from a tough chance that Hashim Amla put down when the West Australian was on 12.

Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 11 at the break.

McLaren, who replaced retired legend Jacques Kallis in South Africa’s side, bowled with good control and had figures of 1-8 from five overs.

Proteas captain Graeme Smith had no hesitation in bowling first at the start of the three-Test series.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to put Australia under pressure,” Smith said.