Lyon could be decisive in Durban: Warner

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon looms as the key bowler for Australia after the day one Durban pitch spun prodigiously.

South Africa left-arm orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled the 11th over and almost struck immediately when a regulation stock ball viciously turned past the bat of Australia opener David Warner and into his pads.

Given not out by umpire Kumar Dharmasena, Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis called for a review but the on-field decision was upheld when ball tracking projected the ball spinning comfortably past leg stump, much to the shock of the Proteas and even non-striker Usman Khawaja.

Maharaj picked up two wickets – Australia captain Steve Smith for 56 and No.5 Shaun Marsh for 40 – and bowled with supreme accuracy and economy all day to finish with 2-69 from 24 overs – the most by any Proteas bowler.

The 28-year-old calls Kingsmead home and said after play he's never seen the ball spin so much on day one of a first-class match, adding that once the pitch flattened out under the baking sun, and as the day wore on, the turn became slower.

Only twice has a team scored more than 200 in the fourth innings and won in Durban, with South Africa's 5-340 against Australia in 2002 the highest-successful run chase.

Australia vice-captain David Warner liked what he saw from Maharaj and expects Lyon to play a big role when it's the tourists' turn to bowl.

"I thought (Maharaj) held up one end very well," Warner said after play on Thursday.

"Definitely, with Gazza's (Lyon) turn and bounce, that will play a key role for us.

"But at the end of the day it's about bowling in partnerships, just like batting; you've got to help the guy at the other end.

"If you can bowl in partnerships and take wickets collectively that's how you get 10 wickets in the first innings and hopefully 10 in the second."

Maharaj was elated with the wicket of Smith, who was dismissed edging a cut stroke that ricocheted off wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock's gloves and lobbed up to present first slip AB de Villiers with an easy catch.

"We do a lot of planning with the spin-bowling coaches and the video analysts and things like that," Maharaj said.

"To gain the reward is a really nice feeling, because you do put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes.

"Not just in terms of working on skills, but preparation from an analysis and tactical point of view.

"I was really excited to get his wicket."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5. Live coverage

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage