We are here to help, says Clarke

Former captain Michael Clarke says current skipper Steve Smith must “take ownership” of the Australian Test team to arrest its current dramatic slide and has offered his services to help.

Smith played a lone hand in Australia’s paltry first innings in Hobart, contributing 48 not out as the home side was blasted out for 85.

The 27-year old also contributed 31 in the second dig, but he could not prevent a hefty defeat which has heightened the pressure on the third-ranked Test nation.

Smith is the world’s No.1 ranked batsman with 15 centuries to his name in 45 Tests and a batting average of 57.69 that rivals the game's greats, but with five Test losses in succession, the team he leads is coming under heavy fire.

Quick Single: Ruthless Proteas hammer Australia

“Steve Smith’s performances as a player are unbelievable. He’s leading the way as a player,” Clarke said on Nine's Wide World of Sports after Australia lost by an innings and 80 runs to hand the Proteas a 2-0 series lead.

“But this is where he’s going to be tested as a captain … in how he turns this around from how poorly we’ve been playing for the last five Test matches to getting back to where Australian cricket needs to be.

“I think now Steve Smith has to take ownership of this team.”

Clarke inherited a side in transition from Ricky Ponting before returning them to the world No.1 ranking briefly in March 2014.

He retired after Australia's 2-3 Ashes defeat last year – the fourth straight away Ashes tour Australia had lost.

Smith took over the team and they surged back to the top of the Test rankings in February following a series win in New Zealand, but have now slipped to third amid their string of defeats in Sri Lanka and now at home.

Australia will slip to fifth if it loses the third Test in Adelaide, starting November 24, and Clarke was quick to offer his expertise to the likes of Smith and head coach Darren Lehmann.

“I want the Australian team to know that we are right here to help them. We are a part of that cricket family,” Clarke said.

“Our phone numbers haven’t changed. We’re at every single game.

“We don’t want to get in anybody’s way, but if the Australian changeroom feels like they can use our services for anything to help them, we’d love to help.

“We feel the pain as much as the players.”

Fellow WWOS commentator Ian Chappell said Australia had hit “rock bottom” and needed to look to youth.

“Since the Argus review (in 2011), I think we’ve been digging a big hole and it’s just got deeper and deeper,” Chappell said.

“Hopefully we’ve hit the bottom now because you’ve got to hit the bottom before you can bounce back up.

“Going down the route of old debutants all the time leads you down a dead-end path and we’ve hit that dead-end now.

“I don’t think the selectors have any choice but to go for some youth.

“There may be some pain for a while, but we’re experiencing pain now as it is anyhow.”

International cricket is more affordable than ever this summer, with adult tickets from $30, kids from $10 and family packages from $65 across every day of international cricket. Price for purchase at match. Transaction fee from $6.95 applies to online and other purchases. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.