The former Australia batter David Warner labelled his past teammates “disgraceful” after they slipped to defeat in the deciding Test against South Africa cricket in Cape Town.

Pat Cummins’ side fell to a 176 run defeat at Newlands to lose both the series and their No 1 ranking in the format, with the tourists bowled out for just 111 in the fourth innings.

Australia collapsed having been set a target of 288, losing both Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in Kagiso Rabada’s opening over before being torn apart by Simon Harmer.

The off-spinner finished with figures of 6-16 as the Proteas secured a 2-1 series success to leave Australia facing huge selection questions ahead of their home series with New Zealand in December.

Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, was highly unimpressed by the display.

“It is terrible. It is un-Australian. There is no fight whatsoever. It is disgraceful.“ Warner said on Fox Sports. “The batters have let the bowlers down all series.

“Renshaw showed fight in that first Test but I think the batters have been utterly disgraceful.”

Another lean series for Labuschagne ended with scores of nought and four in the third Test, and likely spells the end of his time at No 3 in the Test team.

While Steve Smith will return to the middle order, Australia must figure how best to balance their batting line-up despite the success of Renshaw both at No 5 and alongside Travis Head as an opener. The dwindling returns of lead spinner Nathan Lyon, left out for the second Test in Gqeberha, are also of concern.

Captain Cummins conceded that changes were likely before Australia return to action.

"I don't even know what I make of that,” Cummins said of Warner’s criticism.

“I think it's always the case after losing a series [that changes are talked about], and it's probably fair, we lost two games in a row," Cummins said. "It's fair to be asking those questions, we'll be asking them internally as well.

“We are a very good side, but I think we need to get a little bit better if we want to get back to No. 1 ... so maybe that's a change of style, maybe it's a change of personnel in some instances. Give us a couple of weeks and work it out."