Australia will bat first in Cape Town after dropping Shaun Marsh and Peter Siddle for the Test series decider against South Africa.

Marsh’s omission was expected given Shane Watson had overcome a calf injury, but the inclusion of James Pattinson at the expense of Siddle surprised.

Michael Clarke won the toss and was eager to get first use of a “beautiful day and a very dry wicket”.

The Proteas also made two changes, Alviro Petersen and Kyle Abbott returning for Quinton de Kock (omitted) and Wayne Parnell (groin strain).

Watson will bat at No.6 in the reshuffled order.

Pattinson has not played a first-class match since suffering a stress fracture of the back in the Ashes Test at Lord’s in July, 2013.

But the 23-year-old returned to full fitness in the Big Bash League and bowls significantly quicker than fellow Victorian Siddle.

“Velocity’s a big thing for us,” coach Darren Lehmann admitted after his side’s 231-run loss in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.

Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Siddle have been Australia’s three-prong pace attack for the past seven Tests, dating back to the opening clash of the 2013-14 Ashes in Brisbane.

Siddle and Harris both had limited impact in Port Elizabeth, but Nathan Lyon was full of praise for the side’s workhorse.

“Peter Siddle, I thought he did fantastically. The energy that he showed was brilliant,” Lyon said. Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel.