In the past few months, the game has not been so favorable for all-time favorite Australian team. First, they were slammed 3-0 by Sri Lanka in the test series which has caused them losing the number one team rank and then South Africa making it even worse for them to defeat with 5-0 in ODI series.
Australia and South Africa will be playing the first match of test series beginning on Thursday. Looking to take advantage from the home ground, the team is aspiring on Mitchell Starc. Even the Australian pacer is not so good with his injury but then as well the team has called him. He will be playing with knee pad onto the ground.
South Africa will also miss AB De Villiers as he is going through an elbow injury. South Africa has won last two series here so it could be an unavoidable pressure to the home team.
Starc, who has taken 115 wickets at 27.36 in his 28 Tests, said he was ready to lead Australia's attack even though he is still recovering from his accident and needs to re-dress the wound every day.
"It's not bleeding, it's healing nicely," said Starc, whose knee pad will allow him to slide and dive while fielding. Starc sat out the one-day humiliation in South Africa earlier this month and along with fellow new-ball partner Josh Hazlewood offers Australia a strong bowling attack.
"We'll all be trying to crank it up. I'll be trying to bowl as fast as I can," Starc said.
Teams:
Australia - David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, John Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon.
South Africa - Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen Cook, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn.
Sania Mirza is 'Number 1' again for the second consecutive year
