Kwena Maphaka makes test debut with South Africa batting first as they look to keep up their record against Pakistan.
Kwena Maphaka will make his Test debut. He becomes the youngest player to feature in a Test for South Africa.
On a warm but partly overcast morning in Cape Town, Temba Bavuma won a second consecutive toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan.
The Newlands pitch, which was given a poor rating when the Test last year ended in 107 overs due to excessive seam movement and inconsistent bounce, will be the centre of attention. Despite last year, the surface is often ideal for batting on the first two days and looks similar to the pitches at Newlands: it is mottled green and has less grass than SuperSport Park.
Three changes from the team that won at SuperSport Park were included in South Africa’s XI, which was revealed the night before the game. Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj are back in, both of them fit.
Dane Paterson at his home ground and Corbin Bosch, who made his debut at SuperSport Park, were both left out, and Tony de Zorzi is out due to a problem in his left thigh. Mulder has risen to No. 3 ahead of Tristan Stubbs, and Ryan Rickelton will open with Aiden Markram.
Salman Agha and, to a lesser extent, Saim Ayub are expected to carry that load for Pakistan, who decided against using a specialist spinner when their XI was announced earlier Friday morning. Agha stated in the pregame that he wanted to have more opportunities here, despite the fact that he did not bowl at all at SuperSport Park. Injury was the only thing that changed them. Due to a stiff back, Naseem Shah is not playing, and Mir Hamza has been added.
The first and second day at Newlands are sellouts, with big crowds expected in support of South Africa after their qualification for the World Test Championship final.