Cricket: South Africa Win Toss And Bowl In 2nd Hobart Test

HOBART, Australia, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Nov, 2016 ) - South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl under cloudy skies in the second Test against Australia in Hobart on Saturday.

The South Africans named Kyle Abbott in their only change in the absence of injured strike bowler Dale Steyn and look to put Australia under early pressure on a conducive greenish pitch. Australia dropped all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and gave Test debuts to batsman Callum Ferguson at No.6 and paceman Joe Mennie, while Joe Burns replaced injured opener Shaun Marsh.

The Australians are looking to fight back from a comprehensive 177-run loss to the Proteas in the series opener in Perth with the team coming under heavy criticism over their capitulation. It was Australia's first loss in an opening Test of their home season in 28 years and they have now slumped to four straight defeats after crashing in all three Tests on their July-August tour of Sri Lanka.

The last time Australia lost four Tests in a row in India three years ago, then coach Mickey Arthur was sacked. The Proteas are on the verge of emulating the intimidating West Indies teams of the 1980-1990s with three straight series wins in Australia after their convincing victory in Perth.

The match began under threatening skies with the forecast of increasing rain during the day with more rain likely on Sunday. Teams Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon.

South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott. Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) Aleem Dar (PAK) tv umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)