Australia crashed to 5-18, were skittled for 85, then watched South Africa reach 5-171 at stumps on a chaotic first day of the second Test in Hobart.
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Australia relived their Trent Bridge nightmare in woeful fashion on Saturday, falling victim to an inspired Vernon Philander to produce the nation’s lowest Test total at home since 1984.
Australia unravelled spectacularly after being sent in under overcast skies on a green-tinged Bellerive pitch, as was the case in Nottingham last year when they were bowled out for 60 in the Ashes decider.
An unbeaten captain’s knock of 48 from Steve Smith represented more than half of Australia’s total.
The collapse meant the Proteas were still well placed to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, even after Mitchell Starc started the final session with three wickets in the space of 10 deliveries.
Josh Hazlewood also removed captain Faf du Plessis and a well-set Hashim Amla for 47 after tea, while Joe Burns missed half chances at short leg when Temba Bavuma was on seven and 27.
Bavuma is 38 not out, while Quinton de Kock will resume on 28.
The hosts have a mountain of work to do on day two, when heavy rain is predicted, as they seek to snap a four-Test losing streak that has already ramped up the pressure on coach Darren Lehmann and plenty of others at Cricket Australia.
Philander was on a hat-trick during a near-unplayable opening spell, which featured the scalps of David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges. It only ended when he trudged off the field with a shoulder injury after a mid-pitch collision with Smith.
Philander returned to the attack after lunch, dismissing Joe Mennie and Nathan Lyon to finish with figures of 5-21 from 10.1 overs.
Debutant Callum Ferguson, added to Australia’s XI at the expense of Mitch Marsh in an effort to shore up their misfiring middle order, was run out for three by substitute fielder Dane Vilas.
It was Australia’s lowest total in 32 years in a home Test, when the West Indies blasted them out for 76 at the WACA.
It would have been so much worse if not for Smith.
Smith and Mennie were the only Australians to reach double figures. Australia’s top seven batsmen, discounting the top-scorer, contributed just 12 runs.
Smith also managed to temporarily take Philander out of the attack, but with a bump – not his bat.
Philander, who boasted figures of 3-2 early on, was hurt in the 13th over.
Philander turned and appealed animatedly after a delivery struck Smith’s pads, with the skipper accidentally clashing with the right-armer while taking off for a quick single.
Greg
Guest
Just pathetic performances and they all should be substituted, a new coach wouldn't hurt either. I will not be watching the cricket this summer, its too embarrassing.
AlanKC
Guest
Once you reach a certain age you just start to laugh about stuff like this, it really isn't as "outrageous" or "shocking" or "dismal" as it once seemed to be...
ColinP
Guest
Agreed they were weakened, but the batting lineup was the same plus ABDV although they did look low on confidence, but sometimes though you jjust have to give England a bit of credit too....they'd basically got back on the plane for final test having already won the series, same thing happened in ashes last test
sindiso
Guest
It is not like when SA failed in Test it would be nothing for OZ. They would be hailed heros. Now Oz is falling in deep Philander is butter soft. The Oz are champions and they are failing dismally against butter soft that's it!
altus
Guest
South Africa had a bad six months, but were without Philander and Steyn against England. They were much better than they showed in that series. They had come off a nightmare tour of India, and the whole batting lineup was down on confidence (not dissimilar to Australia after Sri Lanka). By the fourth test, there were back on song and were on par with England (again without there two best bowlers for the last five years)
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Well, we knew they can't handle swing. Or seam. I've got to the point where I'm not surprised by the horrible collapses. That's bad.
Tanmoy kar
Guest
Australian batsmen are not equipped to handle swinging deliveries, in fact batsmen of most of the countries, except Englishmen and to some extend the South Africans.
Amrit
Roar Guru
They failed since they were not up for the game. You can say it was the Philander burst but they were certainly not up for it. They felt Day 1 would be washed out
Albatross
Guest
Could be over by stumps on day 2. Hilarious in some ways!
ColinP
Guest
It feels like I've woken up on Xmas morning...what the hell is going on with Australia's batting. Scary thing is SA were soundly outplayed much of last winter by England playing away, and then Pakistan came to England and looked a much better side than SA, batting and bowling, and I would say have the best bowling attack that's visited England for a long time. I expected Pakistan to really challenge in oz, but now they might start to even look like favourites....and then India away to come
Andy
Guest
You are complaining about your team having another team 5/171? If the other team is and plays significantly better a pitch doesnt matter one bit. Except in India.
Baz
Guest
I also saw the hit on phil and he is soft like butter but bowls well in these conditions in melb gabba and SA non day night he be useless
Baz
Guest
Why dont we make pitches for our bowlers not theres