Proteas v Australia: What time does first Test start?

The highly-anticipated first Test between the Proteas and Australia will begin in Brisbane on Saturday, with the hosts undoubtedly sure to be the overwhelming favourites.

For those fans watching in South Africa, it will be an early start if you hope to watch most of the action, with play starting at 2:30am (SA time). It will be shown on SuperSport’s Grandstand channel 201, as well as the cricket channel 212.

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As a reminder, the Proteas will head into the first Test with some confidence and momentum on their side after a solid performance in a recent warm-up game.

Kagiso Rabada took two of the six wickets to fall on the final day of the Proteas’ only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI as the four-day game ended in a draw in Brisbane on Monday.

Having declared on their overnight total on 304 for eight, the tourists set their hosts a target of 426 and they reached 184 for six in 58 overs when the two captains shook hands before tea on the fourth afternoon.

Fast bowler Rabada had bagged two for 22 in six overs, with fellow pacemen Lungi Ngidi (5-1-9-1), Anrich Nortje (5-0-13-0) and Gerald Coetzee (6-0-13-0) also impressing. Peter Handscomb, captain and top-scorer for the home side, retired with 48, with the other two wickets falling to Simon Harmer (1/65) and Keshav Maharaj (1/37).

The match at Allan Border Field was the only warm-up fixture for the Proteas ahead of the first game of their three-match Test series that starts on at The Gabba on 17 December.

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Proteas Test squad against Australia

Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).

South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary

Four-day Tour Match

09 – 12 December

Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane

Tests

17 – 21 December

Australia vs South Africa – The Gabba, Brisbane

26 – 30 December

Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne

04 – 08 January

Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney