Australia’s recent record in away Test series shows they still have a long way to go

After the thumping they received in Port Elizabeth, where they went down by 231 runs after losing nine 10 wickets for 90 runs, Michael Clarke’s men head to Cape Town with just one victory in 11 overseas Tests.
This is easy to ignore basking in the glory of the 5-0 Ashes whitewash, which extended to six victories in a row when Australia demolished South Africa in the first Test on a dangerous Centurion Park pitch.
However the reality of Australia’s now stuttering resurgence comes with a more sobering dose of reality.
Play
Tom Moody: Partnerships essential for Australia

Australia’s recent overseas record is worse than at any stage since the nadir of the mid ‘80s.
From defeating Sri Lanka in Kandy during 1983 to the stirring first Test victory against England at Headingley in 1989, Australia won just one of 20 away Tests, against England at Lord’s in 1985.
Australia’s current predicament continues to be reinforced by the mantra of captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann. Good sides win away.
South Africa have gone eight years without losing an away series. That is an extraordinary record which includes winning their last two series in Australia and explains why South Africa is ranked so comfortably ahead of every other team in the world.
India recently showed its famous Jekyll and Hyde home and away contrast by losing a home series to the lowly Kiwis in New Zealand.
There is an obvious common denominator with Australia’s lack of success on the road during the past year — dry, flat pitches like the one St George’s Park has served up for this Test. Early concerns about the patchy, tufty grass covering evaporated with some decent prematch mowing.

Australia was undone in India on baked, turning decks, losing all four Tests, and lost 3-0 in England on dry, slow, low grubby pitches.
Contrast this with Australia flogging India 4-0 in Australia two seasons ago and completely dismembering England over the summer.
If this current Test has proved anything it is that Australia’s bowlers lack the variety to succeed on dead tracks and the batsmen lack the patience to build an innings in the conditions.
Australia’s first innings was an embarrassment. Only one player, David Warner, passed 50.
Play
Australia's Steve Smith ahead of day four of second Test
Second TestYesterday    2:06
Contrast this with South Africa, centuries to AB de Villiers and JP Duminy in the first innings after South Africa was 2-11 in the opening half an hour of the Test, then another unbeaten hundred in the second innings from Hashim Amla when South Africa declared five wickets down.
The diversity of conditions around the world means that players must find a way of succeeding everywhere to be considered truly complete.
Australia’s recent captains are an interesting contrast of home and away performances. Michael Clarke (winning average of 62 at home and 42 away) has the widest gap, although both sets of numbers are impressive, while Ricky Ponting (57 home, 46 away) also has a significantly better record in Australia.
This contrasts with Steve Waugh (48 at home, 56 away) and Allan Border (46 at home, 57 away) while Mark Taylor averaged a blanket 43.