Talking on the eve of the second Test, starting here today, Woolmer said: ``We came straight out of five internationals in a fortnight here against India and Zimbabwe and I'm not sure the players were able to make the necessary adjustment in time.''
He cited bowlers who were bowling too straight and batsmen who were playing too much across the line in Johannesburg. ``I'm not making excuses but Australia went into that contest straight out of the last two Tests of their home series against West Indies.
``Australia may think they are God's gift to cricket but we are not far behind them in preparation and approach to the game. There is certainly not the kind of gap suggested by that innings and 196 runs defeat.''
The perception of South Africa as also-rans has been hurtful to public pride and Hansie Cronje concedes that the immensity of the defeat was ``like running into a brick wall.''
He called his side together yesterday for a team talk-in on the specific problem of Shane Warne. In the first Test, the legspinner sapped all South African resistance in the second innings with four wickets in his best spell of bowling since a finger operation seven months ago.
The South African captain was reluctant to reveal details of the discussion for fear of tipping his hand to the opposition. But he acknowledged that in Johannesburg there had been ``almost an element of fear'' in the batsmen's approach to Warne.
He hinted that this time there would be a less ``conservative'' attitude, perhaps playing Warne less from the crease.
Again, slow bowlers seem likely to dominate in one way or another on a pitch which could turn but only slowly by the second afternoon. This means Warne and Michael Bevan, who both took six wickets in the match in Johannesburg, will be a major part of Australia's strike armoury as wrist-spinners.
South Africa, however, seem determined to go in with only one, even though a win is essential if they are to stay in the threematch series. Woolmer declared: ``There is no way on that pitch I am going in with two slow bowlers.''
With four left-handers in the Australian batting line-up, it seems likely the off-spinner Pat Symcox will replace the left-arm of Paul Adams.
Australia (from): *M A Taylor (cap), M L Hayden, M T G Elliott, M E Waugh, S R Waugh, G S Blewett, M G Bevan, -I A Healy, S K Warne, G D McGrath, J N Gillespie, P RReiffel.
South Africa (from): *W J Cronje, A M Bacher, G Kirsten, J H Kallis, D J Cullinan, H H Gibbs, B M McMillan, S M Pollock, -D J Richardson, L Klusener, A A Donald, P R Adams, P L Symcox.
Leo O'Brien, a former Australian Test batsman who played in the ``Bodyline' series against England, died yesterday at the age of 89 leaving Sir Donald Bradman as the only Australian survivor of that 1932-33 series.
O'Brien made his debut in the second Test of the series in Melbourne. A left-handed batsman and right-arm bowler, he was run out for 10 in the first innings and bowled by Harold Larwood, the scourge of the Australian batsmen, for 11 in the second.