Australia's chairman of selectors Rod Marsh quit with immediate effect Wednesday after a run of five heavy Test defeats left the team in crisis, saying it was time for "some fresh thinking".

Australia's cricketers have lost their "fear factor" and could be heading towards a West Indies-style decline, batting great Brian Lara warns.

Rod Marsh has resigned as Australia's chairman of selectors in the wake of the test team's 2-0 series loss to South Africa.

"Embarrassed" skipper Steve Smith said Australia needed a shake-up but backed under-fire coach Darren Lehmann after the hosts slumped to a humiliating series defeat to South Africa on Tuesday.

Kyle Abbott came into the Test series unsure if he was among his team's top four pace bowlers, yet finished as man-of-the-match in South Africa's innings demolition of Australia in Hobart on Tuesday.

Australia captain Steven Smith said he was embarrassed by his team's performance against South Africa and accused his players of lacking pride in their wickets after another batting collapse paved the way to a crushing 2-0 series defeat.

South Africa demolish Australia by an innings and 80 runs after yet another batting collapse to claim their third successive Test series Down Under, plunging the hosts further into crisis.

Crisis-hit Australia make another shaky start losing Joe Burns in the opening over as they set out to save the second Test against South Africa in Hobart.

Rain washed out day two of the second Test between Australia and South Africa in Hobart on Sunday.

The prospect of a rain-interrupted start to the Hobart Test has South Africa mulling a four-pronged pace assault to push for a series-sealing win over Australia when the match begins on Saturday.

Australia added Joe Burns and the uncapped Callum Ferguson to their squad for the second Test against South Africa on Monday

Paceman Kagiso Rabada takes 5-92 as South Africa complete an emphatic 177-run victory over Australia in the first Test at the WACA.

South Africa set Australia 539 to win on the fourth day of the opening Test against Australia in Perth Sunday, ensuring the home side has to produce the greatest-ever fourth innings run chase at the ground to beat them.

South Africa overcame the loss of star paceman Dale Steyn to produce a stunning comeback on the second day of the opening Test against Australia in Perth Friday.

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt will compete in Australia for the first time when he headlines an innovative team athletics event next year, he said on Friday.

Australia ripped through the South African top order to leave the tourists in damage limitation mode on 78 for four at lunch on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday.

Veteran seamer Peter Siddle will return to bolster an Australian side keen to halt a losing streak in the first Test against South

Ian Botham has hit out at the "appalling" prospect of a first day/night Test in England, saying the "ridiculous" plan risks damaging cricket's flagship format.

Defending champions Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers will tackle a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI as part of their preparation for this summer’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Two women and two men are killed at a theme park on Australia's popular Gold Coast, police say, with witnesses describing how "everyone was screaming" after a raft apparently flipped on a water ride.