- Scorecard: South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test

Australia [Images] skipper Ricky Ponting [Images] won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against South Africa [Images] in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Australia will hope to make best use of a pitch largely devoid of grass, but the heavy cloud cover could offer the home new ball bowlers some assistance.

Opening batsman Phillip Hughes, spin bowling all-rounder Marcus North and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus [Images] were included in the Australian playing eleven to make their Test debuts.

They ignored left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger, choosing all-rounder Andrew McDonald, a medium-pacer, instead.

South Africa retained the same XI that played all three Tests in Australia, claiming a 2-1 series win.

Teams

South Africa: Graeme Smith [Images] (captain), Neil McKenzie [Images], Hashim Amla [Images], Jacques Kallis [Images], AB de Villiers [Images], JP Duminy [Images], Mark Boucher [Images] (w/k), Morne Morkel [Images], Paul Harris, Dale Steyn [Images], Makhaya Ntini [Images].

Australia: Simon Katich [Images], Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke [Images], Michael Hussey [Images], Marcus North, Brad Haddin (w/k), Andrew McDonald, Mitchell Johnson [Images], Peter Siddle [Images], Ben Hilfenhaus.