Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith believes Morne Morkel should come into the side for Kagiso Rabada in the third Test against Australia at Newlands.

After playing in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban, Morkel lost his place to Lungi Ngidi at St George’s Park, and the 21-year-old did not disappoint, finishing with figures of 5-75 as South Africa beat Australia by six wickets in Port Elizabeth.

Ngidi will keep his place for the third Test, but with Rabada possibly missing the remainder of the series through suspension, Morkel has been given a path back into the team, and an opportunity to get his 300th Test wicket.

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‘I think it would be a natural thing for Morkel to come in,’ Smith said. ‘For him, close to 300 Test wickets, he’s an experienced guy, [playing his] last series.

‘You’d want him to make a big impact if he does get that opportunity.

‘There is experience there behind Rabada, but I think Rabada has just been that level above everybody else and that’s why he’s such a big loss.’

Smith, who captained the Proteas between 2003 and 2014, added that Dale Steyn would probably only be available for the fourth and final Test of the series at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

‘I think Dale Steyn is still a little bit behind in his recovery,’ Smith said on Wednesday.

‘I spoke to him this [Wednesday] morning actually. He says he’s bowling well but it’s taking him a bit of time to recover after spells, so I think he’s targeting that fourth Test to be available.

‘Whether they pick him or not, that’s another thing,’ he said.