South Africa win the Test and series on horror day for Australian cricket

AUSTRALIAN cricket is in ruins after another shambolic batting collapse gifted South Africa a comprehensive series victory in Hobart.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: Kyle Abbott of South Africa celebrates after taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja of Australia during day four of the Second Test match between Australia and South Africa at Blundstone Arena on November 15, 2016 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIAN cricket is in ruins after another shambolic batting collapse gifted South Africa a comprehensive series victory in Hobart.

Never before has Australia been whitewashed on home soil, but that unwanted slice of history beckons unless Steve Smith’s shattered side can rally in the third Test under lights in Adelaide.

For the second time this match, skipper Smith stood up to be counted while his teammates dropped like flies around him – Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson dismissed in the most humiliating circumstances imaginable as Australia slumped to an innings and 80-run defeat at Bellerive.

South Africa celebrates the wicket of Usman Khawaja

After resuming at 2-121, Australia lost their last eight wickets for just 32 runs – following on from their 85 all out disaster in the first innings.

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If you take out the day lost for rain, Australia have been utterly destroyed in two days and one session of cricket.

Voges appears certain to be axed and other changes are likely after coach Darren Lehmann admitted his side had reached a batting crisis point.

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Ultimately Smith was unable to withstand the relentless pressure applied by South Africa’s bowlers led by Kagiso Rabada (4-34) and Kyle Abbott (6-77) and Australia fell over in the space of 19.2 overs in the first session on day four.

And the South Africans keep celebrating, this time the wicket of Adam Voges.

Once Usman Khawaja nicked off to Abbott for 64, the wheels fell off in rapid fashion and any hope Australia had of making South Africa bat again completely evaporated.

Not since 1988 have Australia endured such a horrific start to a home summer, only back then they were taken apart by a world beating West Indies, not a South African side ranked below them at No.5 in Test cricket.

South Africa have now won their past three Test tours to Australia, and in the first two Tests they’ve played almost flawless cricket.

Kagiso Rabada claims the wicket of Callum Ferguson and the Australians are very happy.

Following the Test, Steve Smith seemed at a loss to explain the performance of the Australian team.

“Stick with us, we’re doing our best,” said Smith.

“We’re trying to turn it around and we’ve obviously got a lot of work to do to do that, but we’re working hard. We’ve just got to find ways to be successful out in the middle and a little bit more resilient.

“Obviously this series is gone now, we’ve been outplayed in these first two Test matches but for us we’ve got a lot to play for. We’ve lost our last five Test matches and we’re better than that. We’ve got to turn it around and find a way to win. We’ve got to work hard and play a lot better cricket in Adelaide.

“(Changes) is obviously up to the selectors but when you lose five Test matches in a row things are going to be talked about. We’ve got to find ways to get this Australian team over the line and start playing some better cricket.”

Now they are celebrating Steve Smith’s wicket.

Australia’s losing streak has now stretched to five – the worst run by an Australian team since the Homeworkgate disaster of 2013.

Compounding the misery is the fact four of those defeats have been by 100 plus runs and then today’s final embarrassment a rare innings loss at home.

Smith’s captaincy record is now in tatters, but the 27-year-old deserves none of the blame.

The problems in Australian Cricket run much deeper, and coach Lehmann and high performance manager Pat Howard are facing enormous pressure to survive in their posts.

Mickey Arthur was dumped for Lehmann the last time Australia plummeted to such a low point.

Originally published as South Africa win the Test and series on horror day for Australian cricket