South Africa v Australia 3rd Test at Cape Town - Preview

Cape Town: Just three weeks after the start of a series in which they started as favourites, South Africa go into the third and final Test against Australia starting at Newlands on Thursday seeking to show their series win in Australia earlier in the season was more than a flash in the pan.

After two successive defeats, three if a loss in the final Test in Australia is included - it is a South African side which seems to be in some disarray.

Regular captain Graeme Smith was ruled out with a broken bone in his right hand and there is apparent discord between the selectors and team management.

The omission of Neil McKenzie and Morne Morkel from South Africa's 3rd Test squad against Australia and initially naming Ashwell Prince as opener and captain has upset indisposed skipper Graeme Smith.

Imraan Khan has been brought in for his debut and opens with the recalled Ashwell Prince, who normally operates in the middle-order. 24, made a century at the weekend and also hit 100 against Australia in a tour match at Potchefstroom last month.

They come in for skipper Smith (broken finger) and McKenzie (dropped) and South Africa, 2-0 down in the series, want the two left-handers to nullify Mitchell Johnson after the Australia paceman shone in Johannesburg and Durban.

South Africa have also dropped all-rounder Morne Morkel but Arthur is confident the team can end the series on a high.

Veteran Jacques Kallis will lead the side after a messy controversy which followed the appointment of Ashwell Prince as skipper.

The decision of the selectors, headed by former star all-rounder Mike Procter, was overruled by Cricket SA chief executive Gerald Majola.

Explaining the decision, Majola said Prince, who has not played in the last five Tests, was initially named captain of the Proteas for the third Test but he refused since he was not happy with the opener's role.

Johnson's new-found ability to swing the ball in to right-handed batsmen and away from left-handers has confounded the South African batsmen, who found run-scoring easy in Australia but have struggled at home.

Highlights of the match