Five reasons why the Proteas have a huge upper hand in the final match of the series

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Maddinson and Handscomb could be handed debuts

While Australia surely needed changes in personnel, they may have arrived at a wrong time. With the last Test set to be played under lights with the pink ball, most of Australia's initial squad members would have been prepared for this Test right from the start.

But their pathetic failures have meant the selectors have reached out to a handful of Test hopefuls, who suddenly find themselves in contention to get a baggy green, albeit in a day-night Test. At least two of Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers and Peter Handscomb will be handed a debut at Adelaide.

Given the way selectors have treated debutants in this series, Ferguson and Mennie being prime examples, their debut match might well be their only chance to present a case for a long-term run in the side. That this Test is played with the pink ball, still pretty much an unknown, even in Australian domestic cricket, means there is tremendous pressure on the debutants.