South Africa looks to series victory

Hobart: Skipper Steve Smith and his Australia team are under big pressure from South Africa and their own selectors as they try to bounce back from one of their worst losing streaks in the second Test at Hobart on Saturday.

The Australians face comprehensive 177-run loss to the Proteas in the series opener in Perth with the team coming under heavy criticism over their capitulation.

South Africa were missing their influential skipper AB de Villiers and lost pace spearhead Dale Steyn with a series-ending shoulder injury yet still outplayed the home team.

Australia could be up to three enforced team changes for Hobart with injuries to Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle.

South Africa recovered from a shaky first innings total of 242 to turn the Perth Test around, triggering a first-innings collapse as Australia lost 10 wickets for 86 and then taking control through centuries from JP Duminy and Dean Elgar.

Australia, who have only lost once in 12 Tests at Hobart's Bellerive Oval, are likely to bring back Joe Burns for injured opener Marsh, while speedster Joe Mennie is expected to make his Test debut for the sidelined Siddle.

Callum Ferguson may also get a start in the middle order if Voges does not recover in time from hamstring trouble in the five-day turnaround from Perth.

Australia's new-ball attack of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood looked a little underdone in Perth after recent spells out of the game and were forced to bowl a total of 103.4 overs between them in Perth.

South Africa will decide between Morne Morkel or Kyle Abbott as Steyn's replacement as the third paceman in their only likely change from Perth.

Teams from

Australia: Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott.

Stats and Trivia

• The last time Australia lost four Tests in a row in India three years ago, then coach Mickey Arthur was sacked.
• The Perth Test was Australia's first loss in an opening Test of their home season in 28 years.

Match facts
12-16 November 2016
Start time 1030 local (2330 GMT Friday)

Umpires and referee:
Ground Umpires - Richard Kettleborough and Aleem Dar
TV umpire - Nigel Llong
Referee - Andy Pycroft
Fourth umpire - Mick Martell