1st Test live cricket streaming: Watch Australia vs South Africa 2016 live online, on TV

The Proteas recently inflicted a 5-0 whitewash on the Aussies in the ODI series.

australia test cricket — Time for the Australians to shine again? Pictured: Australia's David Warner (R) and Mitchell MarshReuters

When South Africa and Australia collide in a Test match series, the world stops. The intensity of the two cricket giants clashing swords is almost equal to that of an Ashes series featuring Australia and England or an India-Pakistan series. Good news is that the two giants renew their rivalry in a three-match Test series to mark a perfect end to the calendar year 2016.

Although the series is being played in Australia, South Africa have an advantage. Here we are not mentioning the 5-0 whitewash inflicted by the AB De Villiers-absent Proteas in the recently concluded ODI series between the tops. Going by their recent rivalry over the years in Test cricket, South Africa look as huge favourites.

It was in the era of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting when Australia last won a Test series on their home turf against South Africa. It was 2005-06 then. Six Test series took place after that in Australia and the home team won none of them. While one of the series resulted in a draw, the Proteas won the five others.

Can things change this time around for Steve Smith's side? That definitely remains to be closely followed.

The two teams clashed in a Test series for the last time in early 2014. The star players from that series -- Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis (South Africa) and Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson (Australia) -- have since retired, and a new team is being spearheaded by Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis, who is again filling in for the injured De Villiers.

Australia vs South Africa 2016: Squads

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Joe Mennie, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen Cook, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Dane Vilas

Australia vs South Africa 2016: Schedule

Series	Date	Home Team		Away Team	Time	Venue
1st Test	November 3	Australia	v	South Africa	13:30 local (02:30 GMT \| 08:00 IST)	WACA, Perth
2nd Test	November 12	Australia	v	South Africa	10:30 local (23:30 GMT -1d \| 05:00 IST)	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
3rd Test	November 24	Australia	v	South Africa	14:00 local (03:30 GMT \| 09:00 IST)	Adelaide Oval