PERTH, Australia (AP) South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening test against Australia, starting at the WACA on Thursday.
South Africa awarded a first test cap to 26-year-old Keshav Maharaj, opting for the left-arm spinner ahead of the more experienced paceman Morne Morkel.
Australia, coming off a 3-0 series to Sri Lanka, named its starting XI on Wednesday, with batsman Usman Khawaja and medium pacer Peter Siddle both earning recalls.
Like South Africa, Australia also went with three fast bowlers, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Siddle, and a spinner, Nathan Lyon.
Teams:
Australia: David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Nigel Long (England). TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough. Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe).
