CAPE TOWN, March 7: A new-look South Africa side go into Friday’s second Test against Australia at Newlands aiming to restore lost pride after four consecutive defeats.

All-rounder Andrew Hall, fast bowler Dewald Pretorius and left-handed batsman Graeme Smith all win their first caps in Cape Town after captain Shaun Pollock was forced to pull out Tuesday with a side strain.

“Pride is a good starting point for us,” Smith said. “We have lost our last four test matches and the guys all want to rectify that. We don’t have anything to lose.”

Mark Boucher will again captain the team in Pollock’s absence but Daryll Cullinan misses the match after withdrawing over a contractual dispute with the South African cricket board.

Putting three debutants on the side could leave South Africa seriously exposed to a fearsome Australian side.

After winning the first test in Johannesburg by a massive and 360 runs, the Australians are looking to force home their advantage and claim the series to secure their status at the top of the world Test rankings in what will be leg-spinner Shane Warne’s 100th Test.

But South Africa’s new blood are determined to put up a strong showing.

“It’s a very proud moment in my career,” said Hall, whose 18-match One-day International career includes a famous night under the Colonial Stadium roof in Melbourne in 2000 when he batted, bowled and donned the wicket-keeping gloves in the same game.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of the other new guys as well and everybody feels the same — we’re really going into this Test match with a lot of pressure on us but as youngsters we all feel that we can do something.

“It may be just be raising the enthusiasm level and making sure our team really enjoys the cricket we are playing.”

Hall has the kind of mental fortitude South Africa desperately need to loosen the hold Steve Waugh’s team have over their closest rivals. Four years ago he was shot at several times from point blank range in a Johannesburg robbery but escaped with only minor injuries.

Australia are expected to field an unchanged side, and despite their superiority on the field, Warne ensured the ongoing psychological warfare lost none of its edge with a pointed reminder that he and the rest of the Australian bowlers would be targeting the man they believe is South Africa’s best batsman.

“We’ve identified Jacques Kallis as someone we’re going to target this Test match,” Warne said. “All the bowlers will be targeting him. We think he and Gary Kirsten are their best players and Glen McGrath seems to be going well against Kirsten, and the rest of the middle order bat around Kallis so it’s important that we knock him over.”

Australia, meanwhile, named leg-spinner Stuart MacGill in their squad of 12.

MacGill, who replaced seamer Andy Bichel, is the only change to the side that won the first Test.

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