Mark Waugh: Steve Smith has a big say in the team selection
Australian national selector Mark Waugh has revealed that skipper Steve Smith has a big say in team selection after the side lost the second Test in Hobart to hand South Africa their third successive series victory Down Under that also led to the resignation of chief selector Rod Marsh.
Greg Chappell has joined the selection panel and Trevor Hohns was named chairman, both on an interim basis.
Former Test captains Michael Clarke and Ian Chappell
"I have only been a selector for a couple of years but I assure you the captain has a big say in the team," Waugh told foxsports.com.au on Wednesday. "He's not a selector but you respect what he says. He's got to deal with the players on the field so you need to give him the players he wants.
“When Michael Clarke was captain and when Steve Smith took over, the captain has had a very big say in his team so I am not quite sure what Michael is talking about there.
“But I think now we're at a stage where we're going to be sitting down and (acknowledge) it's not working. The team we're picking at the moment - the batting, we're having too many batting collapses.”
The final Test is scheduled to start in Adelaide on Nov 24.
“Obviously there will be changes at Adelaide. I can't say how many or who at this present point in time. But I can assure you we are looking at a lot of batsmen. And if someone sticks their hands up and gets a 150 or a 100 in this round then it is really important,” Waugh said.
“At the moment the next levels of players are underneath the Test team, the runs just aren't there. The younger guys in state cricket haven't got the volume of runs to knock the door down. As selectors I think we will be guessing a little bit and using our gut instinct, (asking) 'This guy hasn't quite made the runs, is he going to be better at the next level?'"