Shaun Marsh led an Australian fightback with a dogged unbeaten half-century as the visitors reached tea on day one of the first Test against South Africa at 4-176.
Marsh, who only arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday morning after overcoming a calf injury earlier than expected, was unbeaten on 67 at the end of the second session after being deployed at No.4 in a reshuffled batting order.
Playing his first Test in over two years, Marsh had precious little time to prepare after the tourists were sent in on a bouncy Centurion pitch.
Australia lost both openers in the first hour of play on Wednesday, with Marsh entering the fray at 2-24 after JP Duminy snatched a diving catch at short leg to remove Chris Rogers.
Marsh proceeded to bat with the sort of patience he was not afforded in the Big Bash League final, the match where the West Australian cracked an unbeaten 63 to show national selectors he was fit and worthy of a call-up after Shane Watson’s calf injury.
Debutant Alex Doolan and Michael Clarke were dismissed either side of lunch, with the Australian skipper out hooking when he fell victim to a leg-side trap from Dale Steyn.
But Steve Smith (29 not out) proved a fine foil for Marsh, and the pair snatched back the ascendancy in a 78-run partnership.
Steyn and beanpole Morne Morkel, whose six-foot frame has made him a menace on this wicket, had dried up the runs before Graeme Smith threw the ball to Robin Peterson.
Marsh and Smith grabbed 22 runs from four Peterson overs before Smith withdrew the left-arm finger spinner, who had looked nowhere near as threatening as Steyn, Morkel and Vernon Philander.
Marsh wasn’t without luck in his gutsy knock.
On 12, he benefited from a tough chance that Hashim Amla put down at gully off the bowling of Morkel.
One over after after bringing up his half-century by flicking a loose ball from Ryan McLaren to fine leg, Marsh almost fell victim to the allrounder who replaced retired legend Jacques Kallis in South Africa’s side.
Marsh popped a full delivery from McLaren into the covers, and Peterson went within centimetres of reeling in what would have been a spectacular catch.
