South Africa made three changes to the side that lost to Australia at Centurion, and will bat first as they attempt to square the three-Test series in Port Elizabeth.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith, following a regrettable decision to send the visitors in last Wednesday, opted to bat first on Thursday under overcast skies that will have the ball hooping around.
Quinton de Kock flew into Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night and will make his Test debut, with opener Alviro Petersen laid low by a gastro bug.
Ryan McLaren (concussion) and spinner Robin Peterson (omitted) are also out, with left-handed batsman Dean Elgar and allrounder Wayne Parnell promoted.
Vernon Philander was close to a late scratching due a “little niggle”.
“I got a message as I was putting my blazer on,” Smith said of why the toss was delayed by a few minutes after he took out a pen and made some last-minute alterations to the team sheet.
“The drama is sorted out, Vernon is ready to go.”
Australia, as expected, named an unchanged XI.
In addition to dark clouds, the pitch still has some grass on it, but Smith said his side was ready to face Mitchell Johnson’s fiery new-ball spell.
“Obviously there’ll be a little bit in it this morning. But hopefully we can post a decent total and get off to a good start,” Smith said.
“The decision (today) is not dictated by Centurion. We just feel we want to put runs on the board.”
De Kock is a 21-year-old wicketkeeper who averages 48.87 in first-class cricket, but it’s expected AB de Villiers will stay behind the stumps.
Australia will wrap up their first Test series win on foreign soil since April 2012 with victory at St George’s Park.
South Africa will suffer their first Test series loss since March 2009 if they lose the clash.
Teams:
Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel