PERTH: Dolphins left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj will make his Proteas debut in the first Test against Australia at the WACA on Thursday.
Maharaj will form part of a Proteas attack consisting of pacemen Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada, with the national selectors resisting the temptation to include Morné Morkel upon his return to the squad from a long-term back injury.
Maharaj will have to wait for his opportunity to bowl after Proteas captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat on a hard WACA pitch.
The 26-year-old comes into the Test side on the back of some good form back home in the Sunfoil Series. Prior to the tour Down Under, he claimed a career-best 13/157 against the Warriors in the opening round of the first-class competition.
Du Plessis calling correctly at the toss could have a major influence on the match as Australian captain Steve Smith admitted that he too wanted to have a bat.
The South African skipper will hope that his batsmen, particularly openers Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar, get the visitors off to a good start in order for the platform to be laid for the more attacking Hashim Amla and Co to follow.
It will also allow Maharaj the benefit of hopefully bowling to the Australian batsmen in the fourth innings, when the Perth wicket would have suffered significant wear and tear due to the hot weather expected here over the coming days.
Australia named their team on Wednesday already, with the experienced Peter Siddle edging out Joe Mennie in the final XI.
Teams At The Waca
Australia: David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj.