Live updates: South Africa vs Australia
By Simon Smale
The rain is back and the players are off
By Dean Bilton
Marques Ackerman is all smiles as he waves at his young son while leaving the field. He's got a Test run now, and they'll never take that off him.
That was a pretty ordinary 5.3 overs from Australia in truth. Perhaps this break is a good result for them. The covers are back on.
6th over - Hazlewood to bowl his third
By Dean Bilton
The umpires are having a wee chat about the weather. It looks like it's drizzling a little and I think they are nervous about what might soon be on the horizon. We play on for now.
Hazlewood is not happy at all with the footmarks. Here comes the sawdust. It seems the delayed start has really thrown the Australian quicks off.
Hazlewood is coming around the wicket now too. Ackerman walks at him but yorks himself. The debutant is getting anxious for that first Test run.
Ackerman has his first Test run now as a nudge to gully gets through Labuschagne. A warm round of applause from the modest crowd for that single.
And with that, the umpires are taking them off for more rain. Sigh.
5th over - Starc around the wicket now
By Dean Bilton
Very early in the Test match to be seeing this, but they have plans for Aiden Markram. Starc is coming around the wicket, but not without a few more footmark concerns.
Starc finds the inside edge of Markram's bat and the ball goes on with the angle behind square leg. Two more to the tally.
Starc is all over the shop here. No rhythm at all, struggling with planting his front foot, extracting nothing from the conditions. He's coming back over the wicket now.
And he's lost his run up now, bailing out halfway down. Most unlike Mitchell Starc.
FOUR! Full, wide, driven through cover for another boundary by Markram. He's sensing opportunity here.
Starc ends the over around the wicket again, then turns with a huff to collect his cap.
4th over - Hazlewood in again
By Dean Bilton
Hazlewood again cramps Ackerman up and strikes him on the thigh. He's challenging the left-hander from over the wicket.
Ackerman still yet to get off the mark in Test cricket as Hazlewood allows him no grace whatsoever in the early goings. Looks like Hazlewood is extracting a little bit of sideways movement from the wicket, moreso than Starc anyway.
Excellent over from Hazlewood but Ackerman's defence is pure. Another maiden.
3rd over - Starc in again
By Dean Bilton
Let's see if he's fixed those footmarks up. His first delivery catches the edge of Markram's bat, but Labuschagne fields well at gully and prevent's the game's first run.
Now some trouble with the sightscreen. The covers are flapping around near the fence and Markram is unhappy with them.
Starc throws out a wide one and Markram chases it, but his mistimed drive finds mid off for no run.
FOUR! Glorious way to get things started. A picture perfect cover drive from Markram. There are few better in the world at that very shot.
Four from the over. Despite the conditions it's not really swinging, and despite the grass on the wicket there is not a whole lot of seam movement. Interesting.
2nd over - Josh Hazlewood to bowl his first
By Dean Bilton
Marques Ackerman is a name new to Test cricket. He is making his debut today for his country, and is opening the batting despite not spending a whole lot of time there in first class cricket. And he's got Josh Hazlewood steaming in at him, so good luck with that.
Hazlewood's first ball is loose down the leg side, and he turns and glances at the footmarks too. The delayed start might have just thrown the Aussie quicks a little.
That's more like it. Hazlewood goes through Ackerman and catches the flap of the pad. It deflects just short of the cordon as Ackerman jumps away.
Hazlewood quickly back on the money here, and with good rhythm. Ackerman leaves assertively, with a big stride forward.
Very tidy over, but Ackerman solid in his defence. Another maiden.
1st over - At last! Mitchell Starc has the brand new ball
By Dean Bilton
Right, here we go. Aiden Markram is on strike, Mitchell Starc has the ball and the second Test is finally set to begin. The pitch is green, the sky is grey, it should be a splendid time to be an Australian fast bowler.
The first ball does not swing a jot and is left alone into the gloves of Carey.
Markram defends from back of a length. I don't think it's going to be a particularly quick pitch.
No shape through the air at all so far from Starc's first four deliveries. Markram solid in defence.
A bit of a loosener of a first over from Starc, who seems unhappy with the footmarks. Indeed the sawdust is on its way out at the change of overs.
It's a maiden though. We're underway.
The light could be an issue again
By Dean Bilton
I would say that the scheduled finishing time, which is 6pm local time in Gqeberha, is probably pretty optimistic. If the overhead conditions remain as heavy as they have been in the morning then light will definitely be a factor later in the day.
The forecast for day two isn't particularly promising either at this stage, but the outlook is better for the rest of the Test.
Also, if this pitch plays how we fear it might, we probably won't need too many overs to get a result.
Right, who's up for some cricket?
By Dean Bilton
Evening all! After those couple of hours of classic Simon Smale hospitality, I'm the lucky fella who will actually get to bring you some cricket. We're about half an hour away from Mitchell Starc's first ball on a green and nasty Gqeberha wicket.
And if you're interested in the session times for the rest of the night, I've got you covered. Get that kettle on:
Times AEDT:
First session: 9pm-10:30pm
Second session: 11:10pm-1:10am
Third session: 1:30am-3am
Play will start at 9:00pm AEDT
By Simon Smale
Good news folks.
The pitch inspection has been completed and we will get underway at 9:00pm AEDT, so about 45 minutes time.
That's a bit too much excitement for me for a while, so for the first time this series, say hello to Dean Bilton.
