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Play gets under way

Australia has won the toss and elected to bat in tonight's inaugural Twenty20 International against South Africa at the Gabba.

Australia has won the toss and elected to bat in tonight's inaugural Twenty20 International against South Africa at the Gabba.

The home team has taken the opportunity to rest leading pace duo Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee while Adam Gilchrist is also taking a break behind the stumps and New South Welshman Brad Haddin is his replacement.

The near sell-out crowd will be looking forward to cheering local heroes James Hopes and Andrew Symonds in action for the big bash format, but will be disappointed to see speedster Mitchell Johnson named as 12th man.

The game will be Australia's third Twenty20 contest after previous stoushes against England and New Zealand, and will see Ricky Ponting's team in a slightly different uniform with a silver/grey and gold combination, with nicknames as well as numbers on their backs.

The visitors have made a late change with middle-order batsman Ashwell Prince forced out of the contest after sustaining a left thigh strain at practice this morning. All-rounder Jacques Kallis now comes into the side after initially being rested and the charismatic Andre Nel will carry the drinks for the Proteas.

Pace duo Charl Langeveldt and Justin Kemp have also been given the opportunity to overcome niggling injuries, but they are expected to be available for the VB one-day series which begins for South Africa on Sunday.

A carnival-type atmosphere exists at the Gabba and organisers are hoping there will be no repeat of Friday's thunderstorm that halted the domestic Twenty20 match between Queensland and Tasmania in abrupt fashion.

The weather bureau has cancelled a storm warning, however a few showers are still predicted in the Brisbane area throughout the night.

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