Why Australia’s cricketers were given no chance on home soil

The dismal performance of Australia’s cricketers in Hobart left skipper Steve Smith “embarrassed”, ex-captain Michael Clarke “speechless” and former opener Simon Katich “quite astonished”.

Bowling great Shane Warne added that Steve Smith’s men were “hard to watch” at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena as yet another batting collapse – this time of 8-32 – saw Australia bowled out for 161 to lose the second Test to South Africa by an innings and 80 runs.

As a result, the Proteas have won the three-Test series 2-0, with the hosts left to lick their wounds ahead of a week sure to be full of recriminations and finger-pointing.

But are the Australian players really to blame?

Yes, they have lost five Test matches in a row, but their preparation for this series has been disastrous, with players given just one Sheffield Shield match – played under lights and with a pink ball – before the Test series.

Prior to that round of Shield cricket, Australia’s cricketers were either in South Africa for a one-day tour – in which they were thrashed 5-0 – or playing in the domestic one-day tournament, the Matador BBQ’s One-Day Cup.

It meant Australia’s players did not play one red-ball game between the third Test in Sri Lanka (a series they lost 3-0) in August and the October series opener in Perth.

And it’s not like South Africa was expected to be easy beats, having won on its last two Test tours of Australia.

Former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg believes the “fiddling around” with the schedule has backfired significantly.

“The Sheffield Shield should own October and November, and they should not stuff around with it,” he told The New Daily.

“That would give guys a chance to play a few games of first-class cricket and get to grips with the swinging red ball, when it spins and so on.

“At the moment they are trying to run a one-day tournament and squeeze that in before the Big Bash begins, but in trying to do way too much, they have paid the price.

“The constant fiddling around with the schedule has not given the guys much of a chance.”

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes said the scheduling prior to South Africa’s visit was “diabolical” and that heads should roll.

“Whoever put that program together should be sacked,” Hughes told the ABC.

“The preparation for this Test series was diabolical. You’re living in fairyland [if you think it was adequate].

“They [players] have been done over cold here by the program.”

Cricket Australia defended the scheduling, mainly by saying South Africa had the same preparation for the series.

But that’s not quite true. South Africa played two tour matches after landing in Australia, while its first-class domestic season was already in full swing.

Speaking of the build-up, South Africa all-rounder JP Duminy said: “It’s the best preparation we’ve had on any tour, to be honest.”

The realisation hits … but it’s too little, too late

A bitterly disappointed Smith said all of Australia’s batsmen would be forced to play Sheffield Shield cricket in the build-up to the third and final Test against South Africa, which starts on November 24 in Adelaide.

That was not planned, but a scheduled rest has been scrapped as Australia’s batters desperately look for some form.

The irony in that, though, is that the Adelaide Oval Test will be played under lights with a pink ball, while the Shield round is to take place during the day and with a red ball.

“Yeah [it is humiliating]. I’m embarrassed to be sitting here to be honest with you,” a bitterly disappointed Smith said at his post-match press conference on Tuesday.

“Too many times we’ve lost wickets in clumps – 8-32 today, 10-85 in the first innings and you’re not winning any games of cricket when you’re doing that.

“It’s happening way too consistently for my liking. We’re not being resilient, we’re not willing to tough it out and get through tough periods.

“Right now, it’s not good enough. I am hurting.

“I need players that are willing to get in the contest and get in the battle, and have some pride in playing for Australia and pride in the baggy green. That’s what I need.”