Australia vs South Africa 2016: 5 things South Africa should do to win the first Test

When the Faf du Plessis-led South African side take on Australia in Perth on November 3, lots would have changed from the Proteas side that last beat the Aussies Down Under. Then, Graeme Smith was leading the Proteas and the team had a familiar look to it with the likes of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers offering their towering presence in the middle order.

Now, Kallis and Smith have retired. De Villiers is nursing his elbow after a surgery and Faf, the newbie on their last trip is at the helm of the Test team. He has a couple of well-experienced guys at the top of the order in Amla and Duminy and some old hands with the ball as well in Steyn and Morkel. That they play on Perth, a surface that has been good to them in their last few visits here will give South Africa confidence going into the first Test. But then they are up against the Aussies and nothing is guaranteed.

Let us take a look at five things the Proteas should be looking to do to draw first blood in the series.

#1 Containing David Warner

Easier said than done. Containing David Warner will be of utmost priority for the South African bowling attack. Warner relishes the bounce on offer at Perth and with the batting paradise the ground has turned into recently, he would be licking his lips at the prospect of facing the hit-the-deck pace bowlers in the Proteas line-up.

His last innings against them was a brilliant 178 in the final ODI of the One Day series in South Africa. His ability to hook and pull with authority makes him a headache for the likes of Rabada and Morkel, who like to push it in short. Unless they find ways of dismissing this man, they will have a tough start to the series.

Where South Africa can start is by giving him fewer freebies at the start and reducing the run flow. Once Warner is stuck in a rut, there are chances he would take on good balls and lose his wicket. Steyn could be South Africa's trump card against the diminutive Australian opener.

#2 Countering the opening bowlers

Seeing off Mitchell Starc will be key

Australia have one of the best pace attacks in the world and South Africa need not have a false impression of that considering the second string pace attack they sent for the One Day series. The likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will be back and the world has seen what the duo can do.

Starc has the unique ability to make the ball swing late at a good pace and Hazlewood is as good as it gets when plugging away at a consistent line and length. The likes of Stephen Cook, Faf du Plessis, and Hashim Amla have shown a tendency to be caught leg before wicket when facing inswingers, which is bread and butter for Starc.

Hazlewood could also trouble the openers with his consistency outside the off stump. Keeping out Starc's toe-crushing yorkers and playing him out will be one of the top priorities for the South African batsmen.

#3 Finishing off the lower middle order

Mitchell Marsh can score some quick runs with the tail

Much has been said about the weakness of Australia's lower middle order comprising of Mitchell Marsh and Peter Nevill. Neither have produced Test innings’ of authority and are set to be tested by the South African pace bowlers.

From a Proteas point of view, they would like to keep the lower middle order as silent as they are now. The South Africans have shown a tendency to let the tail wag in Tests. On a high-scoring surface like Perth, once the top order is back in the hut, they would want to finish off the tail quickly.

South Africa have the bowling attack to run through the lower half of the Aussie batting but their inability to do that often poses a question. With Mitchell Marsh perfectly capable of acceleration, South Africa will be wary of conceding large totals.

#4 Smart selection

Shamsi could prove to be a shrewd selection

Given South Africa's quota issues, they would want to ensure they put out their best eleven on the pitch for the first Test at Perth. The ground has become a heaven for batsmen of late and playing four seamers, as is the norm at Perth, may not be ideal if conditions remain batting friendly.

Someone like Tabraiz Shamsi, who troubled the Aussies in the ODI series, may be a good option with his variations on an unresponsive wicket. While Shamsi struggled in the warm-up game, he will get to used to the conditions and is a huge threat if the bounce remains intact. His wrong'un bounces much more than expected and it may turn out to be a big weapon in Perth.

If they do pick Shamsi, they will have to choose between Philander and Morkel as Steyn and Rabada are sure of starting. Morkel may enjoy Perth but the same need not be the case with Philander who struggles on unresponsive pitches. But then what happens to the quota? Food for thought.

#5 Using Rabada wisely

Rabada has been a huge find for South Africa

Kagiso Rabada is a big weapon in the Proteas arsenal. But they need to use him wisely or else Warner and Smith are going to feast on the newbie. While he has shown a maturity way beyond his age, Rabada was taken to the cleaners in the ODIs against Australia.

He would need to be managed carefully and given the right inputs ahead of the Perth Test. Rabada has the pace and quality to destroy the Aussie batting line-up but can be overawed by the occasion and the bounce on offer.

It is up to Steyn and Faf to guide the young fast bowler to bowl in the right channels. If he does, his pace and bounce can be unsettling for quite a few Aussie batsmen. Much like how Johnson was used during the Ashes in 2013, Rabada can be given short bursts to bowl at full throttle.