Belittling Sheffield Shield major reason for Australia's woes: Kim Hughes

After suffering their fifth straight Test defeat, a shattered Steven Smith, the Australia captain, gamely fronted the media. In undoubtedly the toughest press conference of his fledgling captaincy, an emotional Smith fended off the inquisitorial journalists with passionate ripostes. His forthrightness was full of conviction, nonetheless, it was a jarring sight for Australian cricket fans to see their captain look so forlorn on home soil.

For Kim Hughes, former Australia captain, it revived nightmarish apparitions from 32 years ago - the last time an Australian skipper was so publicly shamed on home soil. In late 1984, Australia had humiliatingly lost five consecutive Tests against the might of the West Indies, prompting a tearful Hughes to resign as captain after conjuring just four wins from 28 matches in charge.

Right now, Australian cricket is facing its biggest crisis since those dark days. Hughes said he sympathised with the "embarrassed" players but believed at the core of Australia's problems was a lack of preparation ahead of the series against South Africa.

Before the first Test in Perth, there was just one Sheffield Shield round and those matches were played under lights with the first two weeks of the Australian cricket season dominated by the Matador Cup. The Big Bash League's increasing popularity has consigned the 50-over tournament to the start of the season, played in a frenetic two-week format in a sure sign of its dwindling mainstream appeal.

The 62-year-old said Australia's woes could be attributed to the Shield being "demeaned". "There just has to be two-three Sheffield Shield matches in October before the Test summer starts," Hughes told Cricbuzz. "Whoever signed off on there being just one four-day round, which was day-night games, needs to go. The Shield has always been the backbone of Aussie cricket but it has been belittled.

"The schedule has been stuffed up and we've given ourselves no chance at all (against South Africa). If we don't have a proper Sheffield Shield then we can't produce good Test players. The Matador Cup can be moved somewhere else," he added.

Following Australia's disastrous start to the summer, recriminations have ensued with Rod Marsh, chairman of selectors, falling on his sword and replaced by Trevor Hohns on an interim basis. Hughes said he gave his former team-mate words of encourage in the aftermath of the shock resignation and believed the selectors faced an uphill task trying to pick the best XI.

"Rod (Marsh) has been an unbelievable servant of Aussie cricket and I texted him straight after (the resignation)," he said. "I feel sorry for them (the selectors). They didn't have much performances to gauge because there was just one Shield match. It has been an absolute diabolical mess up."

Amid the wash-up of the Hobart debacle has been questions over Smith's influence as captain. Michael Clarke and Ian Chappell, former Australian captains, believe he should be entrusted with more responsibility, including being part of the selection panel.

However, Hughes disagreed with that notion and believed Smith still had enough sway with personnel decisions. "A captain doesn't need to be a selector," he said. "The captain usually gets his way and there probably would have only been a few instances that Michael Clarke didn't get what he wanted (when he was captain).

"Smith needs a number of players to stand up and play with the type of pride he showed in Hobart," he added.

Australia is certain to have a makeover for the third Test in Adelaide starting November 24, which is now a dead rubber. Currently, there is a round of Shield matches being played in a virtual audition for candidates to make their claim for national selection.

Hughes rated promising batsmen Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis and Kurtis Patterson as being chances to be drafted into Australia's misfiring batting-order but warned of an arduous initiation ahead.

"To bring them in now - with the next two Tests being played under lights in Adelaide and Brisbane - might be a no win situation for them," he said. "It is always difficult to come into a side that is down on confidence. It is going to be a tough ask for any new batsman."