South Africa 20 for 2 vs Australia

Boland’s brace, where he removed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham in consecutive balls to put himself on a hat-trick, left South Africa labouring on 20 for 2 when rain returned during the afternoon and didn’t relent with played abandoned at 4.15pm. Overs can be made up across subsequent days although there is more poor weather on the forecasts.

The morning drizzle had cleared to allow an on-time toss, which Pat Cummins won and inserted South Africa, but returned to delay the start by 90 minutes. Only 5.3 overs were possible before the next stoppage which brought an early lunch.

Four balls into his next over Boland was in the wickets when Markram, who had put away two handsome drives against Starc in the first passage of play, looked to come forward into a delivery which nipped back and took an inside edge to flatten middle stump.

It was hard work for all the South Africa batters and there could be few tougher introductions to Test cricket for Ackerman, who had never opened before in his first-class career. After sweating on 0 for 14 balls a thick edge squeezed past gully to get him off the mark moments before players left the field for rain the first time.

Bavuma, who had a poor Test with the bat in Durban, got off the mark with a thick edge through the cordon.

Earlier in the day, it was clear about 15 minutes before the toss that Australia had opted for an all-pace attack when Lyon was walking round in trainers while Boland warmed up then marked out his run with the offspinner holding the tape measure.

It was the first time since 2013 that Lyon had not featured in a red-ball Test when he had been available. Last year he was twice omitted from day-night Tests in Jamaica and Brisbane, decisions he wasn’t impressed with on either occasion. Australia’s spin for this match will be in the hands of their various part-timers: Matt Renshaw, Travis Head, Beau Webster and Marnus Labuschagne.

South Africa were boosted by the return of Kagiso Rabada which saw Keshav Maharaj left out as the home side re-balanced their attack, although unlike Australia they still fielded a specialist spinner in Simon Harmer. Alongside Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke also came into the batting line-up while Ryan Rickelton was moved into the middle order as wicketkeeper.

Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs.