Welcome to Sydney graveyard: History already against Proteas' face-saving Aussie mission

The Proteas will hope to save face when the third and final Test against the Australians commences in Sydney on Wednesday.

A chastening fortnight has seen Dean Elgar and his troops lose the series early, with much criticism being reserved for their poor batting.

Morale is also seemingly low and it certainly won't help that the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has been distinctly unkind to the South Africans since re-admission.