Starc strikes to give Australia hope in second Test against South Africa

Darren Lehmann’s assessment of his team on Saturday was blunt. “We weren't good at all,” said the Australia coach after an abject sessions with the bat during the first day of the second Test against South Africa in Hobart.

Mitchell Starc claimed three wickets to restore some pride for Australia at the end of the first day. Reuters/David Gray

Australia were all out for 85 after 32.5 overs. It was their lowest total at home against South Africa.

The capitulation recalled the horrors of their 47 in Cape Town in 2011 and England's demolition of them for 60 at Trent Bridge last year.

"For us we have just got to be better,” said Lehmann. “It's a case of when the ball is swinging we struggle. There is no hiding from the fact, so we have been doing everything behind the scenes to get better at it.”

The Australian tally might have been worse had skipper Steve Smith not dug in to provide more than half of the runs. “He played really well for his unbeaten 48 and we needed someone to hang in with him,” Lehmann conceded. "Obviously our lower order haven't performed either but you can't blame them, the batters have to do the batting."

Australia’s bowlers though provided a boost for the beleaguered side. Mitchell Starc took three wickets and Josh Hazlewood captured two as South Africa finished the day on 171 for five, a lead of 86 runs.

The hosts are trying to end a four Test losing streak. It is a sequence that has provoked a wave of criticism which became more strident following the 177 run thrashing in the first Test against South Africa in Perth.

"We believe this is best squad we've got to play,” said Lehmann. “At the end of the day we've got to find a way to get through those tough periods and we haven't done that in the last four and a half Test matches.

"That's the challenge for not only the coaching group but also the players - to adapt to the situations that confront you.

"Once we have a collapse we seem to have a big one and someone needs to stop that rot and have a partnership somewhere. There is a lot of criticism and that's warranted when you lose or when you play badly.”