South Africa captain Dean Elgar slams Gabba pitch after first Test defeat against Australia

The Proteas fell to a six-wicket defeat in the first of three Tests after putting up totals of 152 and 99 in their two innings in the match.

The surface at the Gabba had a particular green look about it with the fast bowlers from both teams extracting excessive bounce and movement.

Australia's batters also struggled, besides Travis Head who struck 92 in the first innings in a total of 218, and achieved their target of 34 with four wickets down.

Elgar said after the game: "Thirty four wickets in two days, a pretty one-sided affair, that leads into what everyone is thinking.

"I'm a purist, I want to see the game go to four or five days and the way, the nature of it, and how it played with some seriously steep bounce with the old ball, you are on a hiding to nothing as a batting unit.

"I did ask the umpires when KG (Kagiso Rabada) got (Travis) Head out down leg (in the second innings), how long does it go on for until potentially it is unsafe.

"I know the game was dead and buried, it was never to put a halt to the game. Maybe they felt I was trying to take the mickey, because there were only a handful of runs left to get. It's not a bad reference point to get a reply. There wasn't a reply."

The Proteas' under-pressure batting unit now head to Melbourne for the traditional Boxing Day Test knowing they need to step up to get back into the series.

Elgar's charges have not reached the 200-run mark in three three consecutive Tests going back to the England series in September but the skipper still has confidence of a turnaround.

"I can't see us hitting more balls and becoming better cricketers. We have played enough cricket in our personal careers and guys know their games really well, so hitting another 100 or 200 balls is not going to make you a better cricketer," he said.

"I speak from a personal point of view. It's just one of those games where you failed. I am still confident going into the next one. We will definitely break it down and have chats.

"I would rather see the guys not do anything until we get to Melbourne. That's just me."