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.

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.

Australia will have a new chairman of selectors before the next Ashes series after Cricket Australia says that Rodney Marsh would not be seeking to stay on in the role when his contract expires next year.

David Warner hits a magnificent century for Australia but could not prevent South Africa from completing a clean sweep by winning the fifth and final ODI

South Africa beat Australia by four wickets in the third one-day international at Kingsmead on Wednesday to clinch the five-match series after an epic run chase.

Australia's fast bowling reserves will be put to the test during a five-match one-day international series against South Africa

A century on his one day international debut from Temba Bavuma and four wickets from part-time spinner JP Duminy helped South Africa secure a one-sided 206-run victory over Ireland at Willowmore Park on Sunday.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers is to skip Sunday's one-day international against Ireland to allow further recovery time from an elbow injury ahead of a five-match series against Australia.