We must not gloss over the deep-seeded problems still facing Australian cricket, writes Crash Craddock

EVERY drought-breaking Test victory deserves a solid celebration but we must not gloss over the many problems still facing Australian cricket, writes Robert Craddock.

Debutants Matt Renshaw (L) and Peter Handscomb celebrate the win.

EVERY drought-breaking Test victory deserves a solid celebration but it should not stop Australia asking itself the hard questions.

Barring the obvious return of Shaun Marsh, Australia’s Test side looks relatively settled for the Pakistan series and it was heartening to see young players bring fresh energy to a team that had stagnated.

Peter Hanscomb looks a fine player and Matt Renshaw has the heart for the contest.

After a slow start to the summer people are talking Test cricket again.

The game has surged back to the forefront of sporting discussions, at the water cooler, in bars and on radio and that’s a significant breakthrough.

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Khawaja scored Australia’s only century for the series.

The Sheffield Shield, neglected for so long, also appears to have a sudden spike in relevance.

Fans who have not spoken about the Shield in years were talking about Peter Nevill’s fighting, unbeaten century for NSW on the weekend.

But it’s not as if all the problems of a week ago have suddenly evaporated.

The statistic which haunted Australia from the series is that South Africa struck five centuries in the three Tests and Australia just one, by Usman Khawaja, when the series was over.

As much as there were flashes of promise from the youngsters, the Australian system is still struggling to produce heavy duty Test batsmen.

When Rod Marsh became Australian selection chairman in 2014 he said the one question he had no answer for was why Australia did not produce more top-class batsmen given the exceptional facilities and coaching structures in place.

When Marsh stepped down from the role a fortnight ago the same question remained unanswered.

The cricket train moves at such a pace there is barely time to look back but it would be worthwhile someone sitting down with discarded Test players and asking them what went wrong.

Why did Mitchell Marsh not improve as a Test player? Why did keeper Nevill not have the voice to lift the troops in the field?

Why did Adam Voges’ game deteriorate so rapidly? Was it simply Father Time tapping him on the shoulder?

Debutants Matt Renshaw (L) and Peter Handscomb celebrate the win.

With an India tour looming, Australia must also set it sights on finding decent slow bowling support for Nathan Lyon, even beyond left-armed Steve O’Keefe.

The fast bowling is in good hands with the admirable Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood but they could do with a classy third wheel.

Australia should beat Pakistan in a three-Test series in Australia but it is difficult to see it troubling India unless it can discover an X-factor in batting or bowling.

Maybe that will be young fast bowlers Pat Cummins or James Pattinson.

Great challenges await so the search for improvement must be relentless.