Hosts Australia elect to bat in second Test against SA

[1]

Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide as the Proteas were forced to make a late change to their team on Thursday.

Paceman Vernon Philander was ruled out with a back complaint, which gave Rory Kleinveldt another chance after he was initially passed over for selection.

The Proteas made two other changes, with leg-spinner Imran Tahir coming into the side and all-rounder Faf Du Plessis making his debut for the injured JP Duminy.

Australia named an unchanged team with left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc again omitted.

Shane Watson is also missing from the Australian line-up after failing to prove his fitness following a calf injury and Rob Quiney will again bat at number three.

Adelaide traditionally takes spin late in the match and South African skipper Graeme Smith is banking on wrist-spinner Tahir to make a valuable contribution with his wrong'un turning away from the Australian left-handers.

The Test is being played against the backdrop of a construction site with entire grandstands demolished and ground capacity reduced almost by half as Adelaide Oval undergoes a Aus$530 million ($550 million) redevelopment.

Teams

Australia: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke (captain), Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rory Kleinveldt.

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Billy Bowden (NZL)

TV umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)