Darren Lehmann promises changes after Australia’s series defeat to South Africa

The home side were humbled by an innings and 80 runs before lunch on the fourth day in Hobart with Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith providing the only real resistance to a ideal and well drilled South Africa bowling trio.

There was no shortage of calls for change, demands for answers and expressions of outrage after Australia’s loss in the first Test against South Africa. Khawaja’s 64 would turn out to be the top score in Australia’s second innings, and his wicket was a key moment – ending a 50-run stand with Smith that had sparked some hope for Australia. Stick with us, we are working hard, and we will have to be a little bit more resilient. “When you lose five Test matches in a row, things are going to be talked about”, Smith said, when asked about potential changes.

“We need to find a way to have a bit more fight and hunger, and a bit more pride”.

It was South Africa’s third straight test series win in Australia after their 2008 and 2012 successes.

Those looking down the gun are 37-year-old batsman Adam Voges, opener Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson, who both came in for the Hobart Test. Spinner Lyon is another whose place is at risk after taking just two wickets at 120.50 each in the South Africa series.

The Australians were ranked No. 1 until being swept 3-0 in Sri Lanka in July.

“All our bowlers were exceptional”.

“The schedule is difficult and at ICC level it’s something we’re working very hard on to try and get more structure to refine the way in which worldwide cricket is played and, to be honest, ultimately play less global cricket so that it’s more valuable and is not these random series that crop up all the time. Ian Healy, Tom Moody, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, we’ve had a lot of the legends come in”, he said. “To win a series 2-0 with one game to play, I am very proud of the way the team is moving forward”.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sutherland said, “Ultimately that’s a decision for the board as to whether I’m the right person to lead”.

But beating Australia in less than seven sessions of actual play, which South Africa did in Hobart, took things to another level.

“We bowled well in good areas but we would let them off one ball an over”.

Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain, also stated similar views and labelled Du Plessis’s captaincy as ‘terrific.’ “South Africa would be well advised to keep Faf du Plessis on as captain because he’s a guy that is buoyed by that responsibility”. “Over the last couple of months they haven’t performed anywhere near what they had for the period of time before that”, Ponting told BT Sport.

“With such impressive and emphatic victories, there are no words good enough to pay tribute to the team”, said CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

South Africa claimed the three-Test series with victory in the second clash, courtesy of some poor batting by their opposition.