Summary

  • Third Test, day one, Cape Town

  • South Africa slip from 158-0 to 329 all out after being asked to bat

  • Starc takes six wickets, including four with second new ball

  • Ackerman top-scores with 95 for Proteas

  • Series level at 1-1

Have your say on South Africa v Australia

Live Reporting

by Jonty Colman

  1. SA 2-0

    It has taken 10 balls, but we do have our first runs of this Test match.

    The left-handed Marques Ackerman picks up a couple down the leg side.

    Josh Hazlewood ends his first over with two more dot balls.

  2. SA 0-0

    Mitchell StarcGetty Images

    A maiden to start the day off from Mitchell Starc.

    Josh Hazlewood will open up from the other end for Australia.

  3. Shaun Pollock
    Ex-South Africa captain on Sky Sports

    It doesn't look like a bowl-first surface. I am very surprised [Australia have opted to bowl]. It is a sign of where Australia are at.

  4. SA 0-0

    England's Richard Kettleborough is in the middle for his 100th Test match as an umpire.

    He becomes only the fifth umpire to reach a century.

    Aiden Markram leaves the first ball from Mitchell Starc alone.

  5. Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman walk out to the middle. The duo will open the batting for hosts South Africa.

    Ackerman is making just his second Test outing, after his debut in the second Test.

    He averages just over 48.5 in first-class cricket.

    Mitchell Starc is handed the new ball.

  6. Get Involved

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    What does Boland have to do to get picked? Surely he should play instead of Hazlewood

    Pete

  7. South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    Newlands Cricket GroundGetty Images

    The national anthems are about to get under way ahead of this third Test.

    Glorious sunshine in Cape Town as the Table Mountain overlooks Newlands.

    We're just a couple minutes away from this Test getting started.

  8. 'Sometimes, it's about going back to basics'

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    Australia batter Travis Head speaking on Sky Sports: "I want to be as consistent as I can possibly be and get runs every time. Every batter will say that.

    "I'm sometimes a bit too eager and chasing that, so sometimes it is about going back to basics."

  9. 'We can expect a similar match'

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada on winning the second Test: "I think it was about doing the basics really well and just finding a way. Sometimes you plan for what you think you will encounter, but we also anticipated situations and I think we did that well."

    "No disrespect to other nations, but growing up Australia were always a team to watch. They play similar to us and we like it when a team is in our faces.

    "We've had two Tests go to day five. The wicket looks dry, so we can expect a similar match. I'm not thinking too far ahead. We'll just take it session by session."

  10. What happened in the first two Tests?

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    Matt Renshaw was the hero of the first Test for Australia, compiling knocks of 190 and 82 and taking two wickets in Durban.

    The Aussies won that match by 214 runs and left South Africa with an almighty challenge to turn things around in the second Test.

    But that is exactly what the hosts managed to do at Gqberha. Batting first, a Test-best 179 from South Africa captain Temba Bavuma helped South Africa declare at the end of the first innings on 425-9.

    In response, Australia were skittled out for 99. The tourists then only scored 295 in the second innings, going on to lose the second Test by an innings and 31 runs.

  11. South Africa make one change, Australia change four

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    Hosts South Africa have made one change to the side that won in the second Test of this series. Gerald Coetzee comes into the team to replace fellow seamer Anrich Nortje, who suffered a groin injury in Gqeberha.

    South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada

    Meanwhile, Australia have made four changes from the second Test. Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon all come in. Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster are the quartet coming out of the side.

    Australia: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

  12. Smith to miss final Test, Coetzee will feature

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    We bring you confirmation of who is in both teams shortly, but here are the big headlines.

    Australia batter Steve Smith will not feature in this Test match. He misses out with a neck injury.

    South Africa pace bowler Gerald Coetzee is included for the hosts.

  13. Australia win the toss and will bowl first

    South Africa v Australia (08:30 GMT)

    The toss has just taken place at Newlands.

    Australia have won it and captain Pat Cummins has opted to bowl first.

  14. Good morning

    Hello and welcome to our live text page for the start of the third and final Test of this series between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town.

    These two rivals are locked at 1-1 in this three-Test series heading into the series decider.

    Having lost the opener convincingly, hosts South Africa fought back to win the second Test comfortably.

    It all comes down to this...