Rabada, Abbott annihilate Aussies

Not happy: Steve Smith speaks to the media after the Second Test loss.

Australia has never been swept in a test series on home soil, and is in grave danger of ending that streak.

“I am hurting. It’s another disappointing performance”, Smith said.

“They got very defensive minded and when they do that – it’s been shown through this Test series — their techniques aren’t good enough to stand up.

“I know some will say you’ve got to give them more than one Test (but) I know some very good one-Test players”.

West Indies legend Brian Lara added his voice to the mix, saying Australian cricket was heading the same way the Windies empire did in the mid-90s and no-one feared Smith’s men anymore. “I’m embarrassed to be sitting here in this position”.

The move came after Proteas defeated Australia by an innings and 80 runs at Hobart.

“They’ve got a full strength team; there’s no injuries”.

Next week’s fixture will be the tourists first pink-ball Test, but the side has a second practice match this weekend under lights at the MCG and paceman Kyle Abbott appears relaxed. But it has been all downhill from there.

Australia were warned of South Africa’s ability to spread the load last month in the ODI series.

Callum Ferguson (1) followed five runs later with the Aussies reeling at 140-5.

“They’ve been ordinary in the seven days of Test cricket we’ve seen so far this summer, on the back of some ordinary Test cricket in Sri Lanka”. South African seamer Vernon Philander took 5-21 and appeared to be nearly unplayable. However, the second day was washed out due to rain. Josh Hazlewood limited the damage with six wickets for Australia. Only two players – captain Michael Clarke, and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson – reach double figures, and Australia’s highest single scorer is extras, with 14.

It was Abbott’s probing swing that undid the brittle batting order, engineering another collapse of eight for 32 in 116 balls and plunging Australian cricket deeper into a crisis of confidence.

Australia’s players had limited red-ball exposure, in the form of one Sheffield Shield round, in the lead-up to the series.

“For us it was just about trying to fight and spend some time out in the middle”, said Australia captain Steve Smith, who was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada for 31. We’re not digging in enough.

South Africa have now won their past three away Test series against Australia, with the two teams now heading to Adelaide the final Test.

“It’s whether you just start again, go with a clean sheet, write down those five names (Smith, Warner, Khawaja, Starc, Hazlewood) and go again”.

The positions of Lehmann, the selectors and high-performance manager Pat Howard are all under pressure. “You’ve got to find a way to play the game”.