Hobart: Coach Darren Lehmann has voiced concern about Australia’s batting line-up after a catastrophic display in which the hosts were bowled out for 85 by South Africa on the first day of the second Test in Hobart on Saturday.
Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott made the most of overcast skies and a moisture-laden pitch, picking up eight wickets between them to wrap up Australia’s innings in less than two-and-a-half hours.
Lehmann, who indicated that radical changes to the team may be needed, was asked by reporters if he thought Australia were in a batting crisis.
“When you get bowled out for 85, it probably is, isn’t it?” he said.
Only two Australian batsmen reached double figures, pace bowler Joe Mennie making 10 and skipper Steve Smith a gritty 48 not out.
Lehmann said it was time the selectors reassessed their options.
“We believe this is the best squad we’ve got to play. On today’s performance you’d say we’ve got to change,” the former left-handed batsman added.
“We had seen it all before, but that didn’t make it any easier to believe it was happening again, this time on home soil.”
Lehmann said the performance brought back memories of the fourth Ashes Test of 2015, when tourists Australia were bowled out for 60 in their first innings by England in Nottingham.
Saturday’s debacle represented Australia’s second-worst start in a home Test when batting first since they lost six wickets for 31 against England in Brisbane in 1978.
Australia’s last tour ended in a 3-0 series drubbing by Sri Lanka and they were beaten by 177 runs by South Africa in the first test of the current three-match series.
“Even four Tests ago [when] we were number one. Now, we’re way away from that,” Lehmann added.
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each as South Africa reached 171 for five at stumps.
On a gloomy, overcast morning, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and sent Australia in to bat on a green-tinged wicket moistened by drizzle.
The call was a masterstroke as his fired-up pacemen, led by a five-wicket haul from Vernon Philander, bowled Australia out in 32.5 overs, for their lowest total at home since a 76 against West Indies in Perth in 1984.
Thrashed by 177 runs in the opener in Perth, Australia’s hopes of a series-levelling victory looked all but dashed. They face a monumental task just to save the match and prevent South Africa closing out the tournament with a game in hand.
Captain Steve Smith was the only Australian batsman to show defiance with an unbeaten 48, while debutant paceman Joe Mennie (10) was his only team mate to reach double figures.
In response, South Africa cruised to 43 without loss at tea before wobbling after the break, as left-armer Starc dismissed openers Stephen Cook (23) and Dean Elgar (17), and JP Duminy (1) for three runs in a devastating spell on a day when 15 wickets tumbled.
Hazlewood trapped Du Plessis lbw for seven to leave the Proteas vulnerable at 76-4 but Amla (47) and Bavuma steadied the innings with a vital 56-run stand.
Amla was Hazlewood’s second victim, nicking behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, but his partner De Kock batted superbly in the final overs to frustrate the home side.
The day belonged to Philander, who took 5-21, having returned to the field after lunch following a heavy clash with Smith as the captain ran through for a single.
Australia were reduced to eight for four in the ninth over in a disastrous start, when Philander dismissed Adam Voges for a first-ball duck, his third wicket putting him on a hat-trick.
Debutant batsman Callum Ferguson, who replaced the dropped all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, saw off Philander’s hat-trick ball before the bowler crashed in to Smith while appealing for lbw.
