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Proteas prepare for pink-ball Test

South Africa have never played a pink-ball Test but the prospect doesn't seem to faze their bowlers going into the day-night Adelaide fixture.

If Australia's Test side is hoping South Africa's lack of experience with the pink ball could be of benefit in Adelaide, the unfazed reaction of South Africa's bowlers would suggest otherwise.

The hosts will be desperate to claw back some dignity during the day-night fixture in the city of churches after losing the three-Test series with shattering results in Perth and Hobart.

Next week's fixture will be the tourists first pink-ball Test, but the side has a second practice match this weekend under lights at the MCG and paceman Kyle Abbott appears relaxed.

"It is not much different to a red ball, or a white ball really for us," Abbott said.

"It is either going to swing or seam. It all depends on the surface.

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"It might nip. Under lights it did seem to nip around a bit, but we'll just have to see when we get there because probably conditions will be a bit different."

After getting a call-up to replace injured pace spearhead Dale Steyn (shoulder), Abbott took 6-77 from 23.1 overs in the latest Test at Bellerive Oval to be named man of the match.

His side glided to an innings-and-80-run victory and unassailable series lead as Australia's batting order twice collapsed for 85 and 161.

The Proteas are eyeing a series clean-sweep in Adelaide while Australian selectors are left to try and field a team to stop the rampaging visitors.

Every member of the Australian side will return to first-class cricket on Thursday, with the exception of pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Joe Mennie.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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