Doug Bollinger, Andrew McDonald to make Test debuts

Debut at home ... Doug Bollinger

Pace bowler Doug Bollinger has been named to make his Test debut on his home ground when Australia play South Africa in the third Test at the SCG starting tomorrow.

All-rounder Andrew McDonald will be the other player putting on the famous baggy green cap for the first time while Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus will carry the drinks for the hosts again.

Captain Ricky Ponting said Bollinger and McDonald would come in for injured pair Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds and the decision between Bollinger and Hilfenhaus came down largely to the game's location.

"That's probably a lot to do with his overall skills at the SCG," Ponting said.

"He knows the conditions very well and will hopefully swing the new ball and late in the innings as well."

Australia are trying to avoid their first series whitewash in more than a century after the Proteas secured the series win with victories in Perth and Melbourne.

South Africa unchanged

South Africa will take an unchanged side into the Test after Ashwell Prince failed a fitness test on his injured thumb.

Captain Graeme Smith will play despite a painful elbow injury that will require a blood-injection procedure from his arm into his elbow tendon following the match.

Smith is desperate to score a 3-0 series sweep over Australia to hand the Proteas the top ranking in Test cricket, snatching the crown from Ricky Ponting's men.

"We are announcing an unchanged eleven for this Test match. Ashwell Prince wasn't considered," Smith said today.

"Yesterday in his training he still had quite a bit of pain in his thumb."

The decision means Jean-Paul Duminy retains his place in the middle order after scoring an unbeaten 50 in the Perth Test and a magnificent 166 in the Melbourne Test in his debut as Prince's replacement.

Smith will skip this month's one-day series in Australia to rest and recover in time for the home Test series against Australia starting on February 26.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew McDonald, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus (12th man).

Excited Bollinger wants to keep it simple

Ricky Ponting is flanked by Australia's two debutants

Doug Bollinger is the sort of bowler that could quickly develop into an Australian cult figure. He is fast, swings the new and old ball and takes wickets regularly, especially at the SCG. It was those traits that earned him a spot ahead of Ben Hilfenhaus for the third Test, but he also brings colourful off-field characteristics.

A year ago he was bald, but now has locks as lush as the outfield, and he speaks with the honesty of a guy who grew up in western Sydney. After hearing about his recall to the squad this week he said he would give 150,000% for his country; he was told on Friday morning he would become Australia's 405th Test player.

When asked whether he would rest well the night before the game he said: "I hope I sleep well, I'll just try and take it as another cricket game, basically. If I think about it too much I'll go insane." Are you nervous? "Yeah."

In the past 14 months Bollinger has taken five five-wicket hauls at the SCG, including 6 for 47 in his last match here against South Australia. A Sheffield Shield season of 45 wickets at 15.44 in 2007-08 won him tours to West Indies and India, but he had to wait for an opportunity after slipping behind Peter Siddle, who he will share the new ball with.

"I'm just going to go out there and just do what I've been doing for New South Wales and try swinging the ball," he said. "Just try to intimidate batsmen and just try and be competitive. I'd just like to compete and do well, I'm not out there to make friends."

Graeme Smith and the South Africans do not know much about Bollinger, but they are learning quickly about his quirks. "Any guy who is going to try 150,000% in this game is someone we're going to have to respect," Smith said teasingly. The tourists have traded jokes about Bollinger's hair on the team bus, but say they won't use them on the field.

While Bollinger spoke off the cuff, Andrew McDonald, the other debutant, was more cautious. McDonald's long-term options are less certain - he comes behind Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson on the allrounders' list - and he was not sure that he would be batting six.

Jacques Kallis is the player McDonald has looked up to most during his career, but he was reluctant to describe the balance between his batting and bowling qualities. "I'll let you guys make up your own minds," he said. "I'm not going to put myself in any category." He bats at five or six for Victoria and chips in with regular overs.