The Australian cricket team's preparations for the test summer ahead have taken major hits in the past 24 hours.
With the top-ranked South Africans cruising towards next week's first test at the Gabba, Michael Clarke's team are sporting a host of concerns, most particularly with their batting.
The Australian top seven have all endured Sheffield Shield failures in their final warm-up.
While there are no concerns about Ricky Ponting's form after he scored 327 runs without being dismissed in back-to-back first class matches, there are some surrounding his fitness.
The 37-year-old has been withdrawn from the last three days of action in Hobart as a precaution for a hamstring injury.
On the bowling front teenager Pat Cummins, who was hoping to make an impact in the test arena, was ruled out for a second consecutive test summer after being diagnosed stress fractures in his lower back.