WELCOME to our live coverage of day one of the second cricket Test between Australia and South Africa in Hobart.

It’s grey and gloomy in the Apple Isle’s capital city today, with rain expected to interrupt play throughout the day.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl.

South Africa 0/39 after 16 overs (Cook 23, Elgar 13)

Australia all out for 85 after 32.5 overs (Smith 48 not-out)

3pm

Aussies horror show keeps getting worse

Elgar’s proving difficult to dislodge.

Elgar’s proving difficult to dislodge.Source:News Corp Australia

If there was anything Australia could take out of a disastrous session-and-a-half, it was the hope that with a quality seam attack of their own and the benefit of bowling in the same helpful conditions the South Africans had, then they too had a chance to roll the visitors.

That’s looking very unlikely at this stage.

Whereas the Aussies’ highest partnership of the innings was just 28 (between Steve Smith and Joe Mennie), the Proteas are finding batting much easier in the day’s second session.

Openers Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar have already put on ... and are looking more comfortable with each passing over.

They’ve been smart, playing the ball late in defence and leaving plenty of deliveries outside off stump. Both men are strong off their pads, so have been waiting for the Aussie quicks to stray too close to leg stump before picking them off through the on-side.

The discipline of the left and right-hander is just making a horror day for the Aussies even worse, and they are facing the prospect of a massive first innings deficit unless they can make some breakthroughs soon.

2.25pm

Mennie enters the fray

Mennie has made the step up to Test cricket.

Mennie has made the step up to Test cricket.Source:News Corp Australia

Joe Mennie was brought into the attack to bowl the sixth over of the innings — his first in Test cricket.

It was a promising start for the 27-year-old, who found his natural area short-of-a-length from the beginning and forced the batsmen to play.

He’d conceded two singles before he drifted onto Stephen Cook’s pads with the last ball of his over and was clipped through the leg side for three.

1.50pm

Freak catch ends Aussies’ humiliation

Well, at least the only way is up.

The Aussies were bowled out for a paltry 85 when Nathan Lyon edged behind to Quinton de Kock to give Vernon Philander his fifth wicket of the innings.

De Kock showed great athleticism to leap high and wide to his right and end the spinner’s dig for just two.

His dismissal left captain Steve Smith stranded two runs short of a half-century.

Remarkably, Smith was one of only two batsmen in the order to reach double figures, the other being Joe Mennie, who made 10.

“Drama and shock at Blundstone Arena, I’d say,” said Channel 9’s Mark Nicholas.

1.43pm

Hazlewood comes and goes

Josh Hazlewood smoked a couple of boundaries through the off side but his stay at the crease ended on eight when Kyle Abbott found his outside edge.

Hashim Amla took his second catch of the innings, moving smartly to his right at first slip.

1.32pm

Freak catch ends Starc’s stay

No need for a review of Starc’s dismissal.

No need for a review of Starc’s dismissal.Source:AAP

Fresh off a second innings century in Perth, JP Duminy showed he could do the business in the field as well as with the bat.

Mitchell Starc outside edged an attempted cover drive off Kyle Abbott to the right of Duminy, who was fielding in the gully.

The ball flew low and fast, but Duminy sprung to the side and poached the Kookaburra just above the turf, and Starc was out for four.

1.26pm

Philander returns

Philander wreaked havoc in the first session.

Philander wreaked havoc in the first session.Source:Getty Images

Vernon Philander made his return to the bowling crease after lunch.

The South African quick left the field after a collision with Steve Smith in the first session that sent him to the turf writhing in pain, but he rolled his arm over in the interval and obviously felt comfortable enough to take his place in the attack again.

His first over since the dramatic incident went for eight — all runs being scored off the bat of Smith — but it didn’t take him long to find his groove again.

On debut at number 8, Joe Mennie looked as solid as any other batsman who had come before him.

But he was ultimately undone by the class of Philander, who picked up wicket number four when he jagged one back through the gate to rattle the South Australian’s stumps when he was on 10.

Mennie pushed forward in defence, but Philander’s delivery did just enough off the wicket to beat the inside edge and plunge the home side further into disarray.

12.30pm

South Africa on top at lunch

This is exactly what Faf du Plessis would have been hoping for when he won the toss and bowled.

The South African quicks (and fielders) have been far too good for Australia’s fragile batting line-up in the opening session. Vernon Philander in particular, supported by Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada, have exploited the bowler-friendly conditions to have the hosts reeling at 6/43.

Steve Smith is playing a lone hand for his side, unbeaten on 20, while debutant Joe Mennie is on 10.

12.15pm

Rabada gets his first

Rabada was too good for Nevill.

Rabada was too good for Nevill.Source:Getty Images

Kagiso Rabada joined in on the demolition job of the Australian batting order when he had Peter Nevill LBW for 3.

The gun youngster angled the ball in to the Aussie wicket-keeper and struck him flush on the front pad. Umpire Aleem Dar didn’t respond to the South Africans’ appeal, but Faf du Plessis referred the not-out decision upstairs.

It proved to be the right call, as Hawkeye showed the ball was going to crash into leg stump and Nevill was sent packing.

11.40am

‘What on Earth is going on?’

A solid collision.

A solid collision.Source:News Corp Australia

As Bill Lawry would say, “It’s all happening.”

The Proteas went up with a huge LBW shout against Steve Smith, who was struck on the pad while attempting to shuffle across his stumps and work the ball to the on-side.

The umpire didn’t raise his finger, and Smith tried to scurry through for a single after being called through by Callum Ferguson. But he was a bit flustered, and watched the ball rather than where he was running.

That, combined with the fact the bowler Vernon Philander was looking at the umpire while appealing, combined to create one giant mess. Smith inadvertently crashed into an unsuspecting Philander, appearing to hit him in the back/ribs with his left elbow, then his shoulder.

Philander went tumbling to the turf and writhed around on the ground in pain. He was in obvious discomfort, grimacing and holding his shoulder as a member of the South African medical team came onto the ground to attend to him.

Philander reportedly hasn’t been taken to hospital for any scans, but is recovering in the dressing room.

While that was happening, Faf du Plessis challenged the original not-out call on Smith’s LBW shout, but the ball was shown to be missing the stumps and Smith survived.

The third umpire could be heard on the Channel 9 broadcast, obviously not knowing his mic was on, and viewers heard him say: “Get off this s***”. We hope the kids watching were covering their ears.

Then, as if things couldn’t get any more hectic, Ferguson ran himself out on debut. He squeezed a ball past point and wanted to come back for a second run, but a direct hit from the fielder caught him short of his ground.

In a remarkable irony, Dane Vilas was the man who hit the stumps, and he was only on as a substitute fielder to cover for Philander’s absence.

“What on Earth is going on?” Kevin Pietersen said in commentary.

“The whole thing is barely believable,” added Mark Nicholas.

11.20am

Khawaja, Voges depart

Khawaja couldn’t rescue the Australians like he tried to do in Perth.

Khawaja couldn’t rescue the Australians like he tried to do in Perth.Source:AFP

Vernon Philander is making the Aussies’ day as miserable as the weather, picking up two scalps in two balls to add to his earlier wicket of David Warner.

He got the ball to nip away just enough from Usman Khawaja, who was squared up by a short-of-a-length delivery and outside edged to Hashim Amla at first slip.

Then Adam Voges copped an absolute peach first up, and you couldn’t blame him for having no answer to Philander’s impeccable line and length.

He trapped the 37-year-old on the crease with a ball that pitched on off and seamed away just enough to coax another outside edge from a tentative forward defence, and Quinton de Kock did the rest behind the stumps.

Debutant Callum Ferguson survived the hat-trick ball.

11.15am

Play resumes after rain delay

The players are back on the field after a 15-minute rain delay.

A light drizzle convinced the umpires to call for the covers, and Steve Smith couldn’t get off the field fast enough, clearly keen to head back to the safety of the dressing room rather than face the moving ball on a helpful deck in overcast conditions.

After David Warner fell playing a loose shot outside off stump, Smith and Usman Khawaja are prioritising defence, trying to get right behind the ball and leaving when possible.

10.40am

Aussies in Hobart horror show

The Proteas are on top in Hobart.

The Proteas are on top in Hobart.Source:Getty Images

Vernon Philander got the South Africans off to the perfect start in Hobart, nicking David Warner off in the first over.

Under cloudy skies conducive to nipping the ball around, the quick initially struggled for control, sending a couple of balls well wide down the leg side to the opening batsman.

But then he pushed one across the left-hander and Warner chased the Kookaburra, throwing his hands at it outside off stump and edging behind, with Proteas keeper Quinton de Kock taking the catch.

Kyle Abbott then joined in on the act and ruined Joe Burns’ return to the Test side, trapping him in front of the stumps in the day’s second over.

Burns didn’t bother challenging the LBW decision, walking straight off without even consulting Usman Khawaja down the other end.

9.30am

Selection changes confirm 20-year first

Mennie’s dream has come true.

Mennie’s dream has come true.Source:News Corp Australia

Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie will make their Test debuts in Hobart.

The pair were presented with their Baggy Greens roughly an hour before the start of play, confirming what many already expected.

Ferguson comes in for the out-of-form Mitch Marsh and will bat at number six, while Mennie replaces the injured Peter Siddle.

Although Mennie grew up in NSW, he plays his state cricket for South Australia with Ferguson, making it the first time in more than 20 years two Redbacks have debuted in the same Test.

South Africa has made just the one change. Kyle Abbott comes in for Dale Steyn, who aggravated a pre-existing shoulder problem at the WACA.

9.30am

Smith’s take ‘nearly laughable, inappropriate’

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has rubbished Graeme Smith’s criticism of the current culture within the Aussie cricket team.

The former South African skipper questioned whether there was the same respect for the Baggy Green today as there was when Australia dominated world cricket in years gone by.

“If I think about earlier years, it was always built on respect and the value of the baggy green,” Smith said this week.

“Maybe players didn’t always get on but they respected the environment and they were traditional and they understood the importance of what playing for Australia meant.”

Speaking on Fox Sports News on Saturday morning, Sutherland took aim at Smith.

“It’s nearly laughable for him to be making comments on the culture of the Australian team,” Sutherland said.

“He’s been out of the game for a while and he wouldn’t know what’s going on in the Australian dressing room and it’s inappropriate for him to comment.

“He’s just being opportunistic to throw a bomb.”

The ex-opening batsman also queried Australia’s scheduling, which sees them juggling a T20 series against Sri Lanka in February just before they go to India to play in the whites — another criticism Sutherland had no time for.

“There’s some logic in that decision,” he said.

“Graeme is clearly ill-informed on that front.”

Earlier, captain Steve Smith also refuted his namesake’s views.

“I’m not sure what Graeme Smith knows about Australian cricket. (He) obviously wasn’t involved in it,” Smith said on Friday.

“We’ve got a good culture built on constant improvement and getting better.

“The guys are in a good place, we’re a tight-knit group and we’re ready to hopefully turn this around this week.”

9am

Axe looming over Marsh

Marsh has struggled for runs.

Marsh has struggled for runs.Source:News Corp Australia

Will he or won’t he play?

Mitch Marsh’s spot in the Aussie line-up is the main talking point before day one gets going following the all-rounder’s struggles with the bat.

With just two fifties in 19 Tests, it’s becoming harder for the 25-year-old to justify his place in the team at number six, even if his handy medium pacers have netted him 29 wickets in his short career.

After scores of 0 and 26 in Perth — his second innings dig coming to an end courtesy of a controversial LBW review — it’s being tipped he’ll make way for Callum Ferguson in Hobart.

The hosts are yet to finalise their line-up this morning, but Steve Smith hinted that playing six specialist batsmen could be the way to go.

“There’s possibilities that we could go in with six genuine batsmen but we’ll wait and see in the morning when we can have another look at the wicket and what the weather’s doing,” he said at his final pre-match press conference.

The inclement weather won’t help Marsh’s case for inclusion, because if the expected breaks in play arrive throughout the Test, it’s less likely the youngster’s seamers will be required to give his fellow pacemen a spell. The rain interruptions should ensure the fast bowlers remain fresh throughout the five days.

The Australian selectors have been keen to play an all-rounder at six in recent years to provide that extra bowling option, but a lack of runs from the side in Perth and earlier in the year against Sri Lanka may force their hand into ensuring they have a genuine batsman rounding off the middle order for this Test.

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh and co. named the same squad for the first two Tests of the summer in a sign there would be no changes (barring injury, of course), but if Marsh was to make way, then clearly that line of thinking would be thrown out the window.

9am

Ferguson in line for debut

Has Ferguson’s time finally arrived?

Has Ferguson’s time finally arrived?Source:News Corp Australia

If Marsh is axed, Callum Ferguson will make his Test debut and become the 445th Australian to wear the Baggy Green.

The 31-year-old South Australian was called into the squad after fitness concerns around Adam Voges’ hamstring. It looks like Voges has recovered sufficiently to take his place in the side, but still Ferguson could get the nod to stiffen the middle order.

He made his international ODI debut in 2009 and has played 30 games in the Aussie colours, but serious knee injuries cruelly cut short his time in the national set-up and he has yet to return since 2011.

A consistent performer in domestic cricket for the Redbacks, the classy right-hander averages a tick over 40 in the first-class arena.

Ferguson’s South Australian teammate Joe Mennie is almost certain to make his Test debut in Hobart too. Peter Siddle is out of the side with back problems, and given Mennie was 12th man in Perth, he’s expected to play.

He was preferred over Jackson Bird ahead of the first Test, but it’s still possible selectors could play the Tasmanian. He’s come into the squad and his knowledge of local conditions is no doubt a factor in his favour, but it’s unlikely he’ll pip Mennie for a starting berth.

Joe Burns will partner David Warner at the top of the order after Shaun Marsh broke a finger in Perth, and the seam-friendly conditions in Tasmania might convince the home side to go in with four fast bowlers, which would see off-spinner Nathan Lyon left out of the side.

8am

Aussies call on former mentor

The Aussies will hope Di Venuto can help the batsmen find form.

The Aussies will hope Di Venuto can help the batsmen find form.Source:News Corp Australia

Australia are hoping the sound advice and familiar throwdowns of former batting coach Michael Di Venuto will help settle their misfiring middle order. Di Venuto, who was highly regarded by skipper Steve Smith and many of his teammates, left Cricket Australia earlier this year to become head coach of English side Surrey.

Smith heaped praise on the Tasmanian, who scored more than 25,000 first-class runs, after capping a meteoric rise with an Allan Border medal in 2015. Di Venuto was invited back into the Australian camp after making a timely return home, with the hosts reeling from a first-innings collapse of 10-86 in the first Test against South Africa at the WACA.

“He’s a magnificent batting coach,” Smith said.

“It’s nice to have had him around and have a little bit of a chat face-to-face about batting and what’s going on with all that.

“A few of the boys have had some throws from him, which has been great.

“It’s great to have had him around to work with this week and be able to talk some good stuff about batting.”

Smith’s side could do with all the help they can, having suffered a series of game-changing collapses over the past two years.

— AAP