South Africa's momentum halted by rain in 1st test

"We would like to get somewhere around 500,'' Kirsten said, "but we've got a lot of work to do and we have to make sure we stay humble and play every hour importantly.''

Australia coach Mickey Arthur said his team's focus was only on getting seven wickets on Sunday, when rain showers are on the forecast. The Australians haven't lost a test at the Gabba since 1988, but are hosting South Africa at the Brisbane venue for the first time in 49 years.

"There's been a huge chunk of the game taken away,'' Arthur said. "We've still got to play very, very well to give ourselves an opportunity to: a) win it; and if we can't win it, b) make sure we don't lose it.''

Australian quicks Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson came into the match desperate to challenge test cricket's leading pace trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, but fell into the trap of bowling too short on a Gabba pitch that was moist underneath and unusually slow and lacking sideways movement.

"Probably wasn't good enough,'' Arthur said of Australia's opening day. "We got our lengths wrong. We weren't bad, but we weren't as clinical as we had been, or hoped to be.

"We weren't able to put South Africa under pressure for long enough. On our report card, probably a bit disappointing. We've still got that second new ball up our sleeve – that's the one trump we have. We have to make that second new ball work for us.''

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