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South Africa name unchanged side

On: Friday, January 2, 2009


South Africa have resisted the temptation to rush vice-captain Ashwell Prince back into their starting XI for the third Test against Australia, which gets under way at the SCG on Saturday.

Prince was ruled out of the Perth Test last month with a damaged thumb.

He also missed the historic victory at the MCG and selectors have kept faith with Prince's replacement JP Duminy, who has made the most of his opportunities in the opening two Tests of the series, hitting a match-defining 166 in Melbourne having already made a half-century in Perth.

Skipper Graeme Smith confirmed his deputy is still suffering the effects of the injury that kept him out of the opening two Tests.

"Ashwell wasn't considered on Thursday," said Smith. "In his training he still had quite a bit of pain in his thumb, so we've gone in with the same team."

Smith also confirmed he will play in Sydney despite a troublesome elbow injury.

"Obviously it's getting worse and worse the more you use it and the more you play," he added.

"I just feel that I can hopefully push it out one more game. It's been such a terrific year and series that I would like to finish it on a high with the boys and hopefully play some good cricket in the next five days and then do whatever I can to make sure that I'm strong and ready for the home series."

Meanwhile, New South Wales pace bowler Doug Bollinger and Victoria all-rounder Andrew McDonald have been drafted into the Australia side.

Bollinger edged out Ben Hilfenhaus to replace Brett Lee, while McDonald comes in at the expense of injured all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

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