Proteas lose toss, bowl in PE as Paterson debuts

Cape Town - England won the toss and decided to bat in the third Test against South Africa at St George's Park on Thursday.

LIVE | Proteas v England, 3rd Test - Day 1

It was the sixth successive Test toss lost by South Africa captain Faf du Plessis.

"It looks a good surface, a bit dry underneath," said England captain Joe Root, who had no hesitation in batting on a hot, sunny day.

England brought back fast bowler Mark Wood in place of the injured James Anderson.

Wood has not played since the World Cup final in July because of a knee injury but has been working on his fitness since the beginning of the tour.

He hasn't played in a red-ball match since a Test series in the West Indies last February.

Root said fellow fast bowler Jofra Archer still felt some soreness from the elbow injury which kept him out of the second Test.

Du Plessis said a slight south-easterly breeze could aid swing but added: "I probably would have batted first."

South Africa picked new cap Dane Paterson as a specialist fast bowler in place of all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius.

"He's a skiddy bowler who hits the top of the stumps," said Du Plessis.

The four-match series is locked at 1-1.

Teams:

South Africa

Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson.

England

Joe Root (captain), Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad.

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford, Rod Tucker (both AUS)

TV umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)