Lyon left out as Australia go all-pace and bowl first on damp day
Australia opted for an all-pace attack and chose to bowl first under damp conditions, leaving spinner Nathan Lyon out of the lineup against South Africa.
Australia made a bold selection decision ahead of the match, opting for an entirely pace-based attack and choosing to bowl first under damp conditions. The tactical shift saw veteran spinner Nathan Lyon left out of the playing XI as the team looked to exploit the moisture in the pitch.
Meanwhile, South Africa made a notable change of their own for this crucial encounter. Kagiso Rabada returned to bolster the bowling department, while Keshav Maharaj was squeezed out of the side.
Both teams head into this fixture with clear objectives as they look to assert their dominance and level the series. The damp surface and overcast overhead conditions heavily influenced the morning toss and subsequent tactical setups.