Australia make wholesale changes ahead of third Test against South Africa

Australia have named four uncapped players in a drastic overhaul of their squad for the third Test against South Africa.

England-born batsman Matt Renshaw is among the new faces, while Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson and Chadd Sayers could also be in line for debuts after being included in a 12-man squad for the day/night match at Adelaide, which starts on Thursday.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and fast bowler Jackson Bird have also earned recalls, with only six players from the previous selection surviving the cull. Australia have lost five successive Tests and last week's innings defeat to South Africa in Hobart left the Proteas with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

That poor form, which also included a 5-0 one-day international series whitewash defeat in South Africa last month, led to Rod Marsh stepping down as Australia's chairman of selectors last week and Trevor Hohns taking up the post on an interim basis.

Hohns said: "Matt [Renshaw] has established himself in a short period of time as one of the best young opening bats in the country. His form is currently very good and we see him as a very exciting prospect for the future."

He added of the additions of pacemen Sayers and Bird: "We consider Chadd and Jackson to be very good bowlers that also can bowl a large amount of overs in conjunction with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

"Chadd bowls very well in Adelaide and Jackson is coming off a strong performance in his last Test match earlier in the year and both deserve their chance."

Middlesbrough-born Queensland batsman Renshaw played cricket with current England star Joe Root when they were young and the 20-year-old is now in line to replace Joe Burns as David Warner's opening partner.

Australia squad: Steve Smith, David Warner, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.