Proteas in sorry state

A mere 12 months after contemplating the creation of a dynasty to take over Australia's place as Test cricket's top dogs, Graeme Smith's side have been reduced to a creaky mass of confusion with no idea what to do for the next Test against England.

Almost a year ago to the day, Smith sat in the bowels of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and spoke of maintaining and improving on the standards that enabled them to become the first side to win a Test series in Australia in 16 years.

However, instead of progression, there's been regression on the part of the South African side.

The bitter disappointment of Wednesday's innings and 98-run defeat was etched on his face and reflected in his words, and Smith knows he and his side have a mountain to climb in order to turn the series around in Cape Town.

"As a team, we reached a point and we haven't been able to go to the next level and that's something we need to address as a unit and as a leadership group.

"From a coaching perspective, we have to look at why we haven't been able to take that next step," Smith mused after the match.

Where South Africa's top six had looked steady in the last two years, here they were fragile - Smith described the batting in the second innings as "tentative" - the bowling lacked discipline and was downright poor in the first 25 overs of the England innings, and Paul Harris failed to provide the control Smith has so come to rely on in recent seasons.

There will have to be personnel changes for the third Test, starting on Sunday.

South Africa had chosen a 15-man squad - and selection convener Mike Procter confirmed on Wednesday that the starting XI for the Newlands Test would have to come from that squad.

"It's quite clear in our own heads the things we need to look at going into Cape Town," said Smith. "We need to be quite precise in terms of the things we need to improve on at training.

"It's important to take the emotion out of the decision-making process.

"Cape Town now becomes a crucial Test and we have to make the right decisions to ensure we win it."

The most obvious change would be to drop Makhaya Ntini and include Friedel de Wet, but could and should there be changes to the batting, too?

Ashwell Prince had expressed his dislike for the opening berth in March before making 150 in that position against Australia at Newlands.

He was at it again before this series, explaining how he preferred to play in the middle order but would make do with his current lot.

JP Duminy is the other player who has looked wholly out of touch. Just a year out from his dream-like innings at the MCG, he has the look of a deer in the headlights about him now.

He appears intimidated by the threat of England attacking his body and his normally fluid stroke play has been hand-cuffed.

Alviro Petersen is the other specialist batsman in the squad and, given his excellent performances under trying circumstances in the one-day series, his inclusion would be merited.

England captain Andrew Strauss said it was a measure of his side's success that they had sown confusion in the South African ranks.

But he also stressed the importance of his team keeping their feet on the ground ahead of the Newlands Test.

South Africa have seen how quickly euphoria can turn to despair and they must reinstall the building blocks of what once made them a successful team - but they must do so rapidly - time is not on their side.