- Scorecard: South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test

Australia [ Images ] skipper Ricky Ponting [ Images ] won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against South Africa [ Images ] in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Australia will hope to make best use of a pitch largely devoid of grass, but the heavy cloud cover could offer the home new ball bowlers some assistance.

Opening batsman Phillip Hughes, spin bowling all-rounder Marcus North and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus [ Images ] were included in the Australian playing eleven to make their Test debuts.

They ignored left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger, choosing all-rounder Andrew McDonald, a medium-pacer, instead.

South Africa retained the same XI that played all three Tests in Australia, claiming a 2-1 series win.

Teams

South Africa: Graeme Smith [ Images ] (captain), Neil McKenzie [ Images ], Hashim Amla [ Images ], Jacques Kallis [ Images ], AB de Villiers [ Images ], JP Duminy [ Images ], Mark Boucher [ Images ] (w/k), Morne Morkel [ Images ], Paul Harris, Dale Steyn [ Images ], Makhaya Ntini [ Images ].

Australia: Simon Katich [ Images ], Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke [ Images ], Michael Hussey [ Images ], Marcus North, Brad Haddin [ Images ] (w/k), Andrew McDonald, Mitchell Johnson [ Images ], Peter Siddle [ Images ], Ben Hilfenhaus.