Crisis-hit Australia make drastic changes

​Sydney: Australia's selectors have responded to the threat of a first ever Test series sweep on home soil by dropping five players from their squad for the third match against South Africa, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday.

Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, as well as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, paid the price for a string of batting collapses, while seamer Joe Mennie was also axed after the innings defeat in the second Test in Hobart.

Four uncapped players -- openers Matt Renshaw and Nic Maddinson, wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb and seamer Chadd Sayers - came into the 12-man squad.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade and seamer Jackson Bird, both given previous chances at test level before being discarded, were also recalled.

South Africa have ensured a third straight series triumph in Australia with thumping victories in Perth and Hobart, rendering the day-night third Test a dead rubber and plunging the host nation into crisis.

Chief selector Rod Marsh stood down from his post ahead of schedule last week and so on Sunday it was his temporary replacement Trevor Hohns who wielded the axe in Adelaide."Matt has established himself in a short period of time as one of the best young opening bats in the country," Hohns said.