Selectors to pick on instinct, says Waugh

Australia's third Test team will be picked more on instinct and feel than pure numbers, national selector Mark Waugh has foreshadowed.

Several spots are up for grabs in the Australian batting order after they were humbled by South Africa in the second Commonwealth Bank Test in Hobart, Australia's fifth consecutive Test defeat.

Waugh said anyone who hit "150 or 100" in this week's Sheffield Shield round would be considered for the day-night Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

Waugh said selectors may need to use their "gut instinct" when they finalise the batting order due to a lack of clear-cut contenders.

"At the moment the next level of players underneath the Test team the runs just aren't there," Waugh told Inside Cricket on Wednesday.

"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?'."

Australia's incumbent Test batsmen have been sent back to Shield this week to apply again for their jobs. Captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood appear the only players assured of keeping their spots.

"Obviously there will be changes at Adelaide. I can't say how many or who at this present point in time," Waugh said.

"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 also defended the selection of Callum Ferguson for the second Test.

The 31-year-old replaced Mitch Marsh at No.6 in Australia's batting order and was run out for three in the first-innings before falling to Kagiso Rabada for one in the second dig.

"With Callum Ferguson, we know what we're going to get with him," Waugh said.

"He's a solid player, averages about 40, he's done well for Australia in one-day cricket, he's had a good couple of years.

"If he'd got 60 or 70, people would be saying, 'He's a great selection'."

"Age to me is irrelevant – I think if you're good enough, it doesn't matter how old you are.

"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."

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