Were they complacent, or just in denial? After South Africa won the first Test, people were shocked at the Saffers’ win “against the odds”. Everyone thought it would be beyond them to win the Test after Steyn was injured. I still can’t fathom why. Yes, they were a bowler down – a man whom Ian Chappell recently ordained the greatest fast-bowler of them all. But “against all odds”? The figurative bookie in question was obviously generous.

Firstly, Kagiso Rabada showed every sign he was a bowler capable of pulling off such a performance. He hits 150-plus consistently, he’s fit and he’s a bowler of exciting talent and impressive common sense. Secondly, the Proteas themselves are a team studded with great performers and characterised by that same trait: common sense. In comparison, Australia has been, as they used to say, like a mad woman’s knitting. There was even a marked, visible difference in the enthusiasm of the two teams. When they were a bowler down, blokes like Duminy and Bavuma put up their hands and, to the surprise of many of the cynics behind the mic, they succeeded in taking wickets and giving their strike bowlers much-needed respite. Simple team work. Thirdly, their entire pace attack was a dangerous and organised unit, as Philander and Rabada demonstrated.

Once joined by Abbott in the second Test, they began to look like 1980s West Indies – or maybe we just looked like 1980s Australia. And they’ve still got Morkel to come. Plenty of pace and power in reserve. Fourthly, in Perth, any disadvantage their attack suffered with Steyn’s injury had been cancelled out by Australia’s batting capitulation, which began early with a bonus runout, and continued just steadily enough to encourage the Proteas.

And so by the second Test, it was, I’d have thought, unsurprising that Smith, Warner, Starc and Hazlewood were the only Aussies likely to offer any resistance. They folded like the bad hand the selectors were dealt. For a while now, the Aussie batting has been a matter of “four out, all out”, and so it was proved, yet again. Why was anyone surprised? Coming off a losing series in Sri Lanka, with one game in a diluted Shield competition under their belts for the summer and a number of players who just can’t seem to get a foothold in Test cricket, they were ripe for the picking. All this shock and alarm has led to much discussion, and if it has a positive side, it’s that – at long bloody last – people are whispering above their breath about a system that’s busted.

Renaissance has often come quickly in Australian cricket, but we’re talking ancient history. We’ll see what the sackings and resignations to come will achieve within the system we have.