Australia rediscovered some steel in its batting line-up, built around n unbeaten century from makeshift opener Usman Khawaja, to eke out a 48-run lead in the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

Khawaja produced Australia’s first century of the series, his 138 not out a decidedly old-school innings that came off 285 deliveries, to push Australia to a total of 6-307 at stumps on the second day of the day-night Test.

The elegant left-hander, who only opened the batting because David Warner was ineligible to face the new ball on Thursday, has now been on the field for the entire opening two days.

He was a picture of concentration throughout his seven-hour dig at the Adelaide Oval, apart from a mix-up running between the wickets that resulted in his captain, Steve Smith, being stranded mid-pitch and run out by a Tabraiz Shamsi throw for 59.

Steve Smith was filthy at being run out when a century looked on the cards.

Even then, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, commentating for Channel Nine, suggested Khawaja’s hesitant running was not solely to blame for Smith’s dismissal.

“I don’t know why Steve Smith left his call so late,” Chappell mused. “I wouldn’t put all of the blame on Khawaja, I think it might be a 50-50 job.”

Nevertheless Smith trudged off fuming, but his departure brought debutant Peter Handscomb to the crease, and he proved a willing accomplice for Khawaja, adding 54 off 78 deliveries as part of a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Peter Handscomb was the standout among Australia’s three debutant batsmen.

Handscomb was the eye-catcher among the four men brought in to bolster the Australian batting line-up after the debacle that was the second test in Hobart.

Opener Matt Renshaw, aged 20, showed a promise and an admirable temperament but only contributed 10 runs, while debutant was bowled by a yorker for a duck and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade was caught behind for four.

But the mainstay of the innings was Khawaja, who was now has featured in seven of the 10 Australian partnerships of 50 or more in this series.

One of his best today @Uz_Khawaja

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) November 25, 2016

Khawaja's past 2 Test summers at home: 174, 9*, 121, 144, 56, 4, 97, 4, 64, 127*
= 800 runs @ 100#AUSvSA

— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) November 25, 2016

“Uzzy has been doing an amazing job,” Handscomb said.

“To bat an entire day against quite a world-class attack … he’s seeing the ball really well.

“Batting with him out there was awesome because he just kept it really calm.”

South African paceman Kyle Aboot, who bowled superbly to finish the day with 3-38 from 25 overs, acknowledged that the hosts had produced a noticeably more-resolute batting performance.

“There’s a different look .. a bit of a hunger factor was there – it was noticeable,” Abbott said, adding that if the Proteas could “pick up the last four wickets and not have a deficit of anything 100 and above … we’ll be pretty confident.

“It’s sitting in the balance.”

Meanwhile Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland says the interim Australian selectors panel is likely to be in place at least until the Indian Test series early next year, but is open to the introduction of new faces in 2017.

With Rod Marsh resigning as chairman of selectors, there is scope to revamp the selection panel with recent Test cricketers such as Mike Hussey or Simon Katich.

Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland is open to an overhaul of the selection panel.

“The absolute truth is that we’ve appointed an interim selection panel. We made that quite clear, Sutherland told the ABC’s Grandstand.

“It will serve the time or the period we think is appropriate, right now we see that as probably getting through this summer, and it might be getting through the selection around the India tour when there’s a bit of a break after that.”

Australia has a three-Test series against Pakistan starting at the Gabba on December 15.

Sutherland said Cricket Australia would “have a think” in coming weeks about the best approach to selection, including the structure and strategy around selection, and the best personnel to have on the panel.

Trevor Hohns stepped in to fill Marsh’s role, while former Test captain Greg Chappell, coach Darren Lehmann and former Australian batsman Mark Waugh round out the panel.