Top 5 embarrasments faced by Australia across formats

Steve Smith walks back after being dismissed
Steve Smith walks away after being dismissed (Photo credit: BCCI)

The pomp, the glory and the swagger, attributes which became synonymous with the Australian cricket team have gone for an almighty toss in the recent months. The Steven Smith-led team has struggled to get going across all formats, and are looking like a jaded unit.

After having struggled in the Test series against Sri Lanka, there was a sense of optimism when the team won the following One Day International and T20 series. However, the team has found it very tough to get going against a rampant South African team in the ongoing ODI series.

Also read: Rod Marsh to resign as Australia's national selector

Here this list, we take a look at 5 such embarrassing moments that Australia have encountered across formats in the recent past.

# 4-0 defeat to India

This series will go down as one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of Australia. The Michael Clarke-led team was drubbed in the 4-match Test Series 4-0. The score line does not reveal the entire story, as right throughout the series, the Australians were outplayed and were dominated across all the three facets by the hosts.

If the troubles on the field were not enough, controversy surrounded the team even off the field. Four Australian players which included team vice-captain, Shane Watson were dropped from the team for the Third test, for not completing their homework. Other players who were dropped included Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja, as they did not complete a task assigned by the then coach Mickey Arthur. The players were asked to suggest ways and means to improve the performances of the team in the forthcoming Test matches.

This stoked a huge controversy, which had an effect on the performance of the team as they went on to lose the remaining matches.

# Ashes 2015 (Trent Bridge)

Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke retired after this series

England usurped the Ashes from Australia when they won the 4th Ashes Test match in Trent Bridge by an innings and 78 runs. The result was a foregone conclusion once Australia were bundled out for 60 in the first innings.

Stuart Broad ripped apart the Australian batting order as he picked up 8 wickets in the first session and demolished any Australian hopes of staging a fightback. The humiliation was such that Australia captain Michael Clarke announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of the Ashes series.

England with this win, took home the Ashes four times in a row, and this is a sequence which is not matched since the 19th century.

# 3-0 whitewash to Sri Lanka

Steve Smith
A desolate Australian side looks on

Sri Lanka's woes in the sub-continent continued when they were walloped 3-0 by a young Sri Lanka side.

Australia started their series on a positive note when they dismissed the hosts for 117. But things went downhill from there as the visitors never got going and were dismissed for 203. Sri Lanka then responded with a dominant 353, and then Australia were shot out for 161 runs.

The second Test was even more embarrassing for Australia as once again their batsmen failed to stand up against the spin of Sri Lanka and lost the match by 229 runs.

The problems continued in Colombo when Rangana Herath spun Sri Lanka to a memorable 3-0 series whitewash as Australia were hammered by 163 runs. It was another woeful batting display, as the failed to cope with the home side's spinners and were spun out in just 44.1 overs.

# 47 all-out against South Africa

Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke leads a shocked Australian team out

In a remarkable turn of events in Cape Town, 23 wickets fell on the second day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in 2011.

Australia batted first on a tricky pitch and led by Michael Clarke's century they scored 284 runs. In reply, South Africa were shot out for a paltry 96 runs. Shane Watson was the wrecker-in-chief as he ended up with a 5-wicket haul.

However, what followed was unprecedented as Australia imploded in their second innings. Vernon Philander, who was making his debut tormented the Australian batsman with a lethal spell of seam and swing bowling on a lively Cape Town pitch. He ended with figures of 5 wickets for 15 runs in 7 overs and Australia were put on their mat, as they were dismissed for 47 runs.

Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith then complied timely centuries as South Africa chased down the tricky target of 236 runs on the 3rd day.

# 5-0 loss to South Africa in ODIs

South Africa
South Africa withstood a David Warner masterclass

2016 is proving to be a sorry year for Steven Smith across formats. After having led the side to an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Sri Lanka, he was in charge of the team which lost 5-0 in the One Day International series against South Africa.

This became the first whitewash suffered by Australia in One Day Internationals. This was a historical series in many ways, as in the 3rd ODI South Africa pulled off an amazing heist when they chased down an almost improbable target of 371, with 4 balls to spare.

Even in the final ODI, the visitors did put up a fight and David Warner scored a magnificent 173, but Australia fell short of the eventual target of 328 by 31 runs.

This loss summed up the series for Australia which could not find any answers to the different questions posed at them by the hosts. The fact that they were a depleted unit played a significant role, but then they were outplayed in all segments.

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Edited by Staff Editor