SYDNEY: South Africa experienced another setback when top-order batsman Theunis de Bruyn was ruled unavailable for the third and final match because he had to return home for family reasons, as if their humiliating losses in the first two Tests against Australia weren't enough.

De Bruyn went back to his home country to give birth to his first child, forcing South Africa to make at least one change for the third and final Test, which begins on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Rassie van der Dussen was replaced by De Bruyn in South Africa's playing XI for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, however, De Bruyn could only muster 12 and 28 runs in the two innings as South Africa lost by an innings and 182 runs. Mitchell Starc gave him a warning after he backed up excessively in the second inning.

De Bruyn's absence will make things worse for South Africa's batters, who have already had trouble adjusting to a potent bowling attack used by the hosts in both Tests. It will also affect South Africa's chances of at least winning the meaningless match and giving some respectability to the final score.

Van der Dussen is expected to rejoin the starting XI as de Bruyn will not be available for the Sydney Test.

Temba Bauvma, the No. 4 batsman for South Africa, stated the visitors need to improve their batting and think about using an additional batter at the SCG.

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