Steyn gives Proteas early edge

The Proteas paceman struck with the fourth delivery of the day, removing debutant Phil Hughes for a duck, before a stunning catch from Neil McKenzie helped him dismiss Simon Katich for three in the ninth over.

It could have been an even better first session for Steyn, but in his final over before lunch captain Graeme Smith could not hold on to a simple edge at first slip that would have had his opposite number Ricky Ponting out for 40.

The Australians had earlier decided to go with the all-round ability of Andrew McDonald, while the team also featured three debutants in Hughes, Marcus North and Ben Hilfenhaus - the first time since 1985 against India that three players were awarded their first caps in the same game.

And after winning the toss and electing to bat, the first of their unfamiliar faces in Hughes found himself in a tangle off the fourth ball when he tried to lift a rising Steyn delivery over the slips and only succeeded in under-edging a simple chance to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Ponting was in next and he may have been regretting his earlier call to bat when he survived a shout for caught behind from just his second ball. Replays vindicated umpire Steve Bucknor's decision to turn down the appeal with the ball brushing Ponting's thigh.

The Tasmanian recovered from that, though, and took the score to 18 with Katich, who was next to go when he tried to steer another Steyn delivery to third man and McKenzie held onto a stunning catch at gully.

Michael Hussey was next to follow after a 20-run stand with his captain when he edged Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis at second slip for four, leaving the tourists reeling at 38 for three.

But Michael Clarke (16 not out) and Ponting (49 not out) managed to stave off any further damage before the lunch break.