Australian selectors prepare to wield axe after second Test loss to New Zealand

AUSTRALIA'S cricket team has never lost to such a lowly ranked opponent on home soil. And Michael Clarke concedes heads will roll.

Test loss

TEST skipper Michael Clarke says the entire Australian team will go under the microscope after an embarrassing loss to New Zealand yesterday exposed a soft underbelly and a top-order in crisis.

Not even a century from David Warner (123no), which included a 34-run last-wicket stand with Nathan Lyon, could save Australia (233) from a seven-run second Test loss against the Black Caps, who claimed their first Test win in Australian in 26 years.

Cruising at 1-122 in pursuit of 241 at  Bellerive Oval, Australia's top-order crumbled again as rookie quick Doug Bracewell (6-40) sparked a collapse of 8-77 to consign the hosts to a humiliating Test loss.

Never have Australia lost to such a lowly ranked opponent on home soil. The last New Zealand team to beat Australia, in Perth in 1985, featured world-class players Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe.

Clarke last night conceded the national panel would wield the axe if necessary as Australia attempt to re- group for India on Boxing Day.

"I'll be on the phone talking to the selectors trying to work out what the best squad is to go down to Melbourne and the best XI when we get there," Clarke said as he mulled over Australia's first loss to New Zealand since a five-wicket defeat in Auckland in 1993.

"We are inconsistent at the minute, which is giving us all a pain in the backside," he said.

Injured duo Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh are hopeful of returning for the first Test against India and Australia need them desperately after senior players Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin failed with the bat in Hobart.

The top-order - once Australian cricket's bankable strength - has become a rabble.

Opener Phil Hughes will be axed for Boxing Day; No.3 Usman Khawaja has one half-century in 11 Test innings; Hussey is averaging 11.86 from his last seven digs and Ponting's two failures in Hobart were so soft he may never be seen in the baggy green again.

In the past 17 months, Australia's top-order has failed to reach 150 five times. Warner, playing just his second Test, is the only batsman who can hold his head high after batting through Australia's innings to make 123 off 170 balls.

Clarke, who made 139 in the first Test at the Gabba, said Australia's batsmen had to lift collectively.

"As batters, it's our job to make runs. We have to do that more often," he said.

"In the first innings our tail once again played a big part in getting us to 130 ... it's not good enough."