South Africa's capitulation by an innings highlighted the terrific mental advantage the Australians have. Two days of being pummelled in the field definitely contributed to the abject batting display and to the thoroughly disappointing position the South Africans now find themselves in, losing even more heavily on their own turf than they did in the three Tests in Australia. Like a wilting plant, they are badly in need of watering. The protea is in dire need of resuscitation. I doubt if there is a more humiliating feeling in the game than suffering this type of beating and it is exacerbated by being at home. On Saturday and Sunday, the ground was supposedly sold out, but there were many empty seats. The SA public could not bear to watch. Only a hardened masochist can take this sort of punishment.

A defeat this big raises many questions. Where to now for the Proteas? Australia will show no mercy - they never do under Steve Waugh, and now the Australian Cricket Board has given him an extra point to prove. It is interesting how psychologically Waugh's axing as captain has only spurred on the Aussies. His troops have certainly rallied around him.

What will the South African selectors do - what can they do? Have they got an answer? Their recent track record would suggest not. More importantly, have the players got an answer? There will have to be a serious indaba (African for meeting) as this type of performance is unacceptable.

But don't blame the players. Things beyond their control are coming home to roost. The way the powers-that-be behaved over selection issues led to a significant lowering of morale in Australia. Now we learn that neither the captain, Shaun Pollock, nor the coach, Graeme Ford, was consulted as to selection for this game - an abysmal state of affairs.

There are not too many days to recoup the lost ground before the second Test at Cape Town on March 8. One consolation is that Newlands has been a happy hunting ground for the Proteas since unity, but will the cricket-mad Capetonians be able lift the side? Will they even come?

Bob Woolmer, South Africa's coach 1994-1999, is writing the Wisden Verdict throughout this series.

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