Chance to stamp authority: Aussie captain

Steve Smith says he has a chance to stamp his authority as captain on a new-look Australian Test team which plays South Africa from Thursday in Adelaide.

Australian captain Steve Smith

Steve Smith can sense a chance to stamp his authority on Australia's revamped Test team. (AAP)

Steve Smith can sense a chance to stamp his authority on Australia's revamped Test team.

The Australians have made five changes for the third Test against South Africa starting Thursday in Adelaide as they seek to avoid a rare home series whitewash.

Opening batsman Matt Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird all come into the side for the pink-ball day-night Test.

Renshaw, Maddinson and Handscomb will all make their Test debut in what skipper Smith describes as an exciting chance - for them, and him.

"It's a great opportunity for me to stamp my authority on this team as the leader," Smith said.

"I have talked a lot to the guys over the last couple of days about growth and trying to grow and learn as a team.

"I know that growth doesn't happen overnight so it could take some time.

"But I am confident that with the guys we have here that we can start turning our results around straightaway and start playing the way we want to play."

Australia were hammered in Perth and Hobart by the South Africans but with the arrival of the new chums, Smith has sensed the arrival of a fresh attitude.

"This series has been disappointing, the way it's gone for us," he said.

"But I'm actually really excited now about the young guys coming into the group and what they bring.

"I've almost felt a little shift over the last couple of days in attitude and energy from what the new guys have brought in."

The Australians plumped for Jackson Bird as third paceman ahead of Chadd Sayers, while Smith said there was little thought of dropping out-of-sorts spinner Nathan Lyon.

"Not really, no. We were always keen on playing a spinner in this game," he said.

South Africa have yet to announce its side for the Test, which starts at 2pm Adelaide time (2.30pm AEDT).


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Source: AAP



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