The second cricket test between the Proteas and Australia got underway at a cold and wet Blundstone Arena in Hobart today.

The Proteas captain, Faf Du Plessis, won the toss and elected to bowl first.

For the Proteas, Kyle Abbott replaced the injured Dale Steyn and for the Aussies, Joe Burns, Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson replaced the Marsh brothers and Peter Siddle.

Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott struck early and the Aussies soon found themselves on 8/4 in the 8th over with Warner, Burns, Khawaja and Voges all back in the dressing room. Callum Ferguson became the first Australian batsmen since Tom Hogan in 1983, to be run out on debut. 

In his 7th over, Philander struck Aussie captain, Steve Smith on the pad an appealed for an lbw. He turned to the umpire whilst running back and Smith, who tried to sneak a single, ran into Philander’s back, causing him to go down. Philander left the field but returned after the lunch break to take two more wickets. The call was reviewed and Smith was given not out. He went on to score 48 runs not out, whilst watching his teammates lose their wickets.

The Aussies were all out for 85 runs in 32.5 overs.

In an almost perfect bowling and fielding performance by the Proteas, Philander fared best with the ball getting 5/21, and was well supported by Abbott on 3/41.

The Proteas got off to a good start in their first innings and at tea were 43/0. Not sure what was said in the Aussie change room but an inspired Mitchell Starc struck in his first two overs after tea sending Cook (23), Elgar (17) and Duminy (1) back to the dressing room with the score on 46/3.

Josh Hazlewood was rewarded for a disciplined spell of bowling and trapped Du Plessis lbw for 7 and then got the important wicket of the Proteas stalwart, Hashim Amla for 47.

At stumps, the Proteas were 171/5 (leading by 86 runs) with Temba Bavuma on 38 and Quinton De Kock on 28, still at the crease. Bavuma survived three chances on Day 1 – dropped catch, run out and an lbw call.