The significance of this Test lies within the fact that this is the first Test of Tim Paine as the captain of the Australian cricket team following the Sandpaper Gate, which saw both captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner lose their leadership roles while also being banned from playing for the country for the next one year.

Meanwhile, Cameron Bancroft also lost his place for being the one that tampered the ball under the instruction of David Warner. Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns took their spot in the opening slot while Peter Handscomb was placed in for former captain Steve Smith.

Mitchell Starc also couldn’t participate in the game due to an injury and Chadd Sayers was given his first Test cap to replace the left-handed pacer.

After winning the toss and batting first, South Africa got a great start with Aiden Markram scoring a superb 152 that was lauded by the captain of Team India, Virat Kohli, before Pat Cummins scalped him. AB De Villiers, too, was fantastic for his 69, but lost his wicket to debutant Chadd Sayers.

Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis continued his terrible form and got out for a duck. In his last 9 innings including this one, the South Africa captain has only reached double figures twice, with his highest score being an embarrassing 20 runs.

At 247/2 and with just under 20 overs of play left in the day, South Africa looked destined to conclude the third session on a high. It was, however, Australia who would be the happier bunch with their display at the final part of the day.

Pat Cummins and Chadd Sayers took four wickets—two each—in quick succession and halted the Proteas at 313/6 after 88 overs. With this, the morale in the Aussie camp would be high and there is a good chance that they would come all-guns-blazing tomorrow.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to his name while debutant Chadd Sayers took a couple himself with Nathan Lyon scalping a wicket early in the innings.