Darren Lehmann isn't to blame for Australia's inept recent batting performances, skipper Steve Smith says.
Pressure on the coach has reached boiling point with South Africa sealing a Test series victory over the Aussies on home soil, after their innings-and-80-run victory on Tuesday in Hobart.
Voicing his disappointment at the result, which included two dismal batting collapses by the hosts, Smith maintained Lehmann was the right man to manage the side.
"He's been terrific over a long period of time.
"It's not his fault we're not playing well. It's up to us to go out there and do the job.
"He does everything he can for us in training and preparation."
After suffering a 177-run loss in Perth, Australia failed across three days' play in Hobart, with miserly totals of 85 and 161.
Tuesday morning brought a collapse of 8-32 from 19.2 overs.
"We prepare well. It's just at the moment, when we get out in the middle, we're not executing our skills well enough and not handling the pressures of international cricket well enough as a playing group," Smith said.
"That has to change and, from my point of view, I have absolutely no problem with anything Darren (Lehmann) is doing at the moment."
Lehmann said that as a coach, he was constantly trying to improve.
"Right now, you're challenged as a coach ... because we're not getting the result we need.
"You have to think of different ways to get the best out of our group of players. That's for all our coaching staff and players - we have to get better."
Team performance manager Pat Howard has indicated it might be time for Lehmann to overhaul his coaching style.
"This is a great challenge for his coaching," Howard said of Australia's recent lacklustre form.
"He's in uncharted territory for him as well and we've talked about that. This is a great chance for him to reinvent."
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