PERTH, Dec 7 AAP - South African captain Mark Boucher won the toss and chose to bat in the four-day cricket match against Western Australia at the WACA ground here today.

Boucher is captaining the side after Test captain Shaun Pollock decided to sit out the match.

Pollock will be on the sidelines to allow other players to push for Test selection, notably pace bowlers Allan Donald and Steve Elworthy.

Also omitted from the South African side was Boeta Dippenaar, whose chances of playing in the first Test against Australia, have all but disappeared.

Teams:

South Africa: Mark Boucher (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Lance Klusener, Steve Elworthy, Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald.

Western Australia: Simon Katich (captain), Mike Hussey, Scott Meuleman, Murray Goodwin, Marcus North, Ryan Campbell, Brad Hogg, Stuart Karpinnen, Matt Nicholson, Brad Oldroyd, Gavin Swan. Kade Harvey 12th man.

Umpire: Ian Lock, Randolph Woolridge.

Third umpire: Bruce Bennett.

© 2001 AAP