The Baggy Greens won a 2-0 series victory over the Proteas after dismissing the visitors for 204 in their second innings at the MCG earlier this week.
Again, the batting performance left much to be desired, with two run outs and a bunch of soft dismissals in the second inning.
It was always going to be intriguing to see if the Proteas make any changes to their team for the third match, especially given that it is still a must-win for South Africa if they are to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
It is officially confirmed that Proteas batsman Theunis de Bruyn will return home for the birth of his first child and will miss the January 4 start of the third Test against Australia at the SCG in Sydney.
No replacement has been called up, and it is expected that Heinrich Klaasen will be given a shot, while Rassie van der Dussen might possibly return to the club to boost the faltering batting order.
PROTEAS SQUAD
Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lung (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
Itinerary for South Africa’s Test Tour of Australia
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 12 December
Cricket Australia XI and South Africa drew at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
Tests
17 – 21 December
Australia defeated South Africa by six wickets in Brisbane’s Gabba.
26 – 30 December
MCG, Melbourne. Australia defeated South Africa by an innings and 182 runs.
04 – 08 January
Australia vs. South Africa – Sydney Cricket Ground
»Proteas are compelled to make a significant team overhaul«