South Africa opts to bowl in T20 against Australia
Australia's T20 captain Mitchell Marsh said he would have also bowled first.
The home side chose an experienced line-up for Sunday's match, with Marsh promoted to open the batting in a move selectors hope will bed down Australia's new T20 opening combination with Travis Head as they build towards the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in just over six months' time.
South Africa have included 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius at the top of the order, with 22-year-old Dewald Brevis in the middle.
Another 19-year-old, left arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, and 23-year-old leg-spinner Nqaba Peter are expected to play in the second game of the series on Tuesday or the final match in Cairns on Saturday.
The teams brought contrasting form into the series.
Australia have won an unprecedented 22 of their past 26 T20Is including a 5-0 clean sweep in the Caribbean last month.
The Proteas have managed only six wins from their past 12 matches and have not won any of their last three bilateral series.
Teams:
Australia: Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis (wkt), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitch Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.
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