Gulidjan fast bowler Scott Boland has been omitted from Australia's test side for final match of the three test series against South Africa, which begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

The seamer has been replaced in the Australian attack by returning quick Josh Hazlewood, who has recovered from a side strain he sustained in the first test of the summer against the West Indies in Perth.

Boland is one of three Australian changes, with spin bowling allrounder Ashton Agar and Queensland batter Matthew Renshaw selected to replace the injured Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, who both sustained finger injuries in the Boxing Day test.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australian captain Pat Cummins said it was a challenging decision to not select Boland, who possess a career test bowling average of just 12.21.

"Always difficult, especially having some like Scotty, he's done fantastically well for us," Cummins said.

Cummins said Boland was well in the mix for selection, however a drier than usual pitch lead Australian selectors to preference a four-pronged bowling attack of quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins alongside spinners Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon.

"We thought about it," Cummins said.

"I think it comes down to, are we confident in taking 20 wickets with the four guys and in this case we are."

Selected on the back of strong Sheffield Shield form (310 runs at 51.66) it will be Renshaw's first test since March 2018 after he was rushed into the side following Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being stood down after the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

Agar returns to the Australian test domain for his first test since September 2017 in response to a spin conducive SCG pitch and the looming Australian test tour of India, which begins next month.

Boland finishes the test summer having played three tests, taking 10 wickets across six innings at an average of 16.42.

Similar to Michael Neser following his single test selection of the summer in Adelaide, Boland's non-selection opens the door for his participation in this season's Big Bash League.

In his BBL career Boland has taken 70 wickets across 57 appearances for the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes.