{"id":747,"date":"2026-10-31T13:16:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T13:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/31\/australia-fans-former-players-call-for-change-after-series-loss-to-south-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T13:16:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T13:16:12","slug":"australia-fans-former-players-call-for-change-after-series-loss-to-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/31\/australia-fans-former-players-call-for-change-after-series-loss-to-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia fans, former players call for change after series loss to South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Updated on 1 hour ago by Charbel Coorey<\/a><\/p>\n

On a day billed as a potential classic with all results possible<\/a>, Australia offered barely a whimper in their chase of 288. Pat Cummins\u2019 team were blown away by South Africa, with the match over at lunch with the visitors collapsing to 60\/7. They were eventually bowled out for 111 to lose by 176 runs, with Simon Harmer<\/a> taking scarcely-believable figures of 6\/16 off 21.1 overs.<\/p>\n

There are no prizes for guessing that the Proteas would be fired up with the series on the line. A series against Australia almost always brings the best out of them. Also, Temba Bavuma has instilled a never-say-die attitude, which has been a common theme in this team over the past two years.<\/p>\n

However, Australia\u2019s batting in the first session on day five at Cape Town was deplorable. Matt Renshaw, Australia\u2019s rock for most of the series, was out caught down the legside for a golden duck, and it went downhill quickly from there.<\/p>\n

Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s Test career looks over as he looked nervous and all at sea once again<\/a>. He was out LBW leaving to Kagiso Rabada, ending a miserable match where he faced just eight balls. His stretch without a Test century now extends to 49 innings, and it is very possible that he doesn\u2019t get another chance to break that drought. Put bluntly, he hasn\u2019t been getting close anyway.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/ins>\n<\/p>\n

Travis Head was out soon after, driving loosely and edging to slip to hand Rabada a third wicket. The dismissals only continued to get worse, with Cameron Green inexplicably calling Josh Inglis through for a non-existent run and Alex Carey attempting to reverse sweep at 42\/4 to a Simon Harmer half volley that could have been bunted back past the non-striker.<\/p>\n

In another damning turn of events, Cameron Green looked all at sea against Harmer in the first session, and didn\u2019t seem to want a bar of it with a number of singles avoided. Whether that was to protect Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins against the fast bowlers is another question, but both are more than capable with the bat.<\/p>\n

Captain Bavuma eventually switched Harmer to a different end in the second session, and he dismissed a clueless Green first ball. Australia\u2019s number four didn\u2019t face a ball from Harmer from the 16th to 39th over.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Gerard couldn’t believe Cameron Green’s dismissal and the build-up to it \"\ud83d\ude2c\"<\/p>\n

Listen to every ball on SEN and the SEN app.#SAvAUS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jelRcAo4Dq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

David Warner scathing of Australia\u2019s batting as they lose a series from 1-0 up despite rain in Gqeberha<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The series took a turn in Gqeberha, and it was Australia\u2019s shoddy batting that was the catalyst. While Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer led a superb fightback with the bat, all the rain meant all Australia needed was to avoid the follow-on by scoring 226.<\/p>\n

Their horrid 99-all-out, described as \u201cgutless\u201d by Vernon Philander, put the match in South Africa\u2019s hands. The Proteas are too determined to decline such a lovely invitation from the Australians.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/ins>\n<\/p>\n

Fast forward to Cape Town, and it was more of the same. Australia put on a good show on a flat pitch in the first innings to earn a lead, but crumbled again when the pressure was on. The decision to bowl first was rightly criticised, but blaming that (poor) call alone ignores the batting failures especially when South Africa knuckled down and fought hard on day four.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Kayo Sports, Mark Waugh, Kerry O\u2019Keeffe and David Warner were scathing of Australia\u2019s batting display in the first session on day five at Newlands.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust got to throw the ball down to the other end, that was a terrible two hours of batting. It was immature, it was terrible,\u201d said Waugh. O\u2019Keeffe also didn\u2019t mince words, calling the batting \u201cmindless\u201d and \u201cnegative\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, it was the recently-retired Warner who was particularly critical, calling the performance un-Australian and disgraceful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just upset. It\u2019s terrible. It\u2019s un-Australian. There\u2019s no fight whatsoever. It\u2019s disgraceful,\u201d Warner said. <\/p>\n

\u201c288 [target] to win the Test match. You can win a series. It\u2019s on the line and this is the way that they\u2019re playing. It\u2019s deplorable. The batters have let the bowlers done all series. Matt Renshaw showed fight in Durban, but I think the batters have been disgraceful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/ins>\n<\/p>\n

Australia fans<\/strong>, pundits call for changes ahead of New Zealand series<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Australians are very passionate about Test cricket, and it is clear in the reactions online. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Australia on the take. <\/p>\n

Possibly the most gutless performance ever seen by an Austalian sporting team.#SAvAUS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sami Dowd (@samidowd) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Australian sports fans are all angry now. The huge positive out of this poor series, is that it\u2019s shown again for the 100th time, just how much we care about Test cricket still.<\/p>\n

\u2014 David Lithgow (@lithgowflashman) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Just a terrible terrible leave. Feel for Marnus, but now it\u2019s time to move on#SAvAUS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Smokie Dawson (@smokiedawson) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

At least this will be over quickly, no late night!
It’s almost impressive how badly the team has been managed on this tour, especially in this test. Bringing in Maddinson, sticking with the boys club, dropping Webster, bowling first, moving Renshaw around the order.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Patrick Gray (@PatrickM_Gray) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Let\u2019s not forget, the Aussies lost a Test to Bangladesh at home just a couple of months ago. The fact they were even in this series is remarkable. But enough is enough. It\u2019s time for change. #SAvAUS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 DJM (@d_j_m10) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Surely the selectors need to be marched as well as some players. #SAvAUS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sandy (@sandyhunter2) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

The selectors have a lot to answer for this series \u2013 plucking Maddinson out of nowhere, blindly persisting with Labuschagne, dropping Boland after his second Test heroics. Hard to see logic to any of it<\/p>\n

\u2014 Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Obviously bitterly disappointed to go down like this, but a drubbing of this nature was long overdue. <\/p>\n

A lot of mediocrity has been masked by some generally good results. Not anymore.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Such a disappointing end to a great Test series. Time for change- Marnus out of chances, Patterson in and Boland has to be in XI. Maddinson\/Connolly two bizarre selections this series #savaus<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 brad davidson (@braddavo) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

The re build of the Australian cricket team should start from tomorrow but you can bet it won’t.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Barrie Carter (@BarrieCarter6) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Marnus, Cummins, Lyon, Bailey, find your resumes fellas. <\/p>\n

Also Connolly, not for extended poor performance like the other but just because he\u2019s nowhere near good enough.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jack Quigley (@Jack_Quigley) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

This is an utter disaster.<\/p>\n

Hopefully it forces change. #SAvAUS<\/a> #cricket<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Menners \"\ud83c\udf99\" (@amenners) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Aus going nowhere in this chase but it\u2019s where they go more generally from here that will be fascinating. They\u2019ve had enough gun players to paper over cracks and win series for some time now but this feels like a real turning point. SA have been magnificent.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

We need a bat summit.<\/p>\n

Chaired by Sir Allan Border, Sir Greg Chappell and Sir Steve Waugh.@keepinitcricket<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Aussies deserve to lose this. Purely for the lack of integrity with the selectors and Cummins, let alone this embarrassment of a 2nd innings<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope this loss leads to someone genuine change #SAvAus<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sammy (@Borgus17) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Where to here for Australia?@tommorris32<\/a> believes there’ll be consequences.#SAvAUS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YfYYOOLrof<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

Australia\u2019s batsmen are a bunch of fragile mentally weak hangers-on that the selectors just can\u2019t let go. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to let go#AUSvSA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scoota \"\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\"\"\ud83e\udd19\"16\"\ud83c\udfc6\" (@easymmmkay) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

They\u2019re totally getting what they deserve. Will they learn their lesson? I think not. We\u2019ve seen them bat like this time and time again. But they keep picking the same team so there are no consequences \"\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\" @CricketAus<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kristin (@Kristin542) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

#SAvAUS<\/a> <\/p>\n

Its a rout.
Now, finally, I hope some heads roll from this\"\ud83e\udd2c\"\"\ud83e\udd2c\"#cricket<\/a>#TestCricket<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Al Prior (@AlrantAl) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

If George Bailey and Andrew McDonald don\u2019t do the honourable thing and quit immediately, then both should be sacked before the plane leaves South Africa\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 RayCapogreco (@RayJCapo79) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n

This team needs a complete overhaul before December. Pathetic.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Eleanor \"\ud83d\udda4\"\"\ud83d\udda4\" (@Eleanor1998_) October 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Australia\u2019s next Test will be against New Zealand, starting on December 9 in Perth. They have lost three of their past five Tests, failing to win either series against Bangladesh and South Africa.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/ins>\n<\/p>\n

The post Australia fans, former players call for change after series loss to South Africa<\/a> appeared first on CricBlog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Updated on 1 hour ago by Charbel Coorey On a day billed as a potential classic with all results possible, Australia offered barely a whimper in their chase of 288. Pat Cummins\u2019 team were blown away by South Africa, with the match over at lunch with the visitors collapsing to 60\/7. They were eventually […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cricketkidunyya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}