South Africa's 2-1 Test series victory over Australia has displaced the visitors from the top of the Test rankings and exposed deep vulnerabilities in the batting order. The Australian team collapsed to scores of 99 and 111 in successive innings, raising urgent questions about squad stability as the nation faces an unforgiving international calendar. Ahead lies a four-match assignment against New Zealand around Christmas, followed by five Tests in India in early 2027, a day-night 150th anniversary Test at home to England in March, and finally the away Ashes series next summer.

Michael Atherton, the former England captain, has expressed serious concern about Australia's trajectory during this critical period. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Atherton highlighted how the combination of recent defeats, selection upheaval and an ageing bowling attack has created conditions where further deterioration remains a genuine possibility.

"You could see it going horribly wrong, couldn't you?," Atherton said on Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

Could Australia's troubles spiral further?

Marnus Labuschagne, Australia's number three batter, has not scored a Test century in 49 innings and faces certain removal ahead of the New Zealand series. His struggles at Cape Town and elsewhere have intensified scrutiny of the selection panel's decision-making. Nic Maddinson was recalled for the South Africa tour after a gap since March 2025 but managed only 56 runs across four innings, including a 33-ball duck, before being dropped from the squad. David Warner, speaking to Fox Sports, branded the capitulation as disgraceful and un-Australian.

Australia's pace bowling unit, while generational in quality, is also ageing, compounding the team's predicament. The convergence of batting collapse, selection turmoil and an increasingly veteran fast-bowling group has created an environment where the team's confidence and cohesion face genuine strain.

Why should England capitalise on this moment?

England's white-ball tour comprises three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals, with the first ODI scheduled for Friday November 13 at 3.30am UK time. Australia have rested pace stalwarts Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins for all eight matches, though several Test players are expected to feature in the ODIs, including Travis Head, Alex Carey, Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw.

Atherton believes England should use the white-ball series as an opportunity to apply sustained pressure on Australia during a vulnerable period. The former England captain emphasised that scrutiny extends beyond the immediate series to Australia's selection decisions and the broader direction of the team.

"Although some of the big guns are not playing, it is a chance to keep some pressure on Australia now - pressure on their selectors after the decisions around Labuschagne and what have you, pressure on some of their big-name players and pressure on them to keep their results modest," said Atherton.

"The past players will start to go at them as they started to do, actually, after about day one of the Ashes in Perth last year, before England then let them off the hook," he added.