Australia have lost their grip on the second Test against South Africa and may well have lost paceman Brett Lee to a foot injury for the rest of the summer as well.
After South Africa recovered from 8-251 to make 459 in reply to the home side's 394 on day three of the second Test at the MCG, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke left reporters in no doubt as to his feelings.
"Definitely one of our most disappointing days for a long time in Test cricket," Clarke said on Sunday.
"Turning up this morning we had a 196-run lead and now we're 60 behind.
"It's a very disappointing day. In saying that, it's another example of how fast things can change in Test cricket.
"I still believe if we bat well tomorrow we can get ourselves into a position to win this Test match."
Australia reached 0-4 at stumps, still trailing by 61 runs.
JP Duminy top-scored for South Africa with 166, his maiden hundred in his second Test.
The 24-year-old left-hander frustrated the Australians by adding 180 for the ninth wicket with paceman Dale Steyn, who made a career-best 76.
It was a ninth-wicket record for Australia-South Africa Tests and the third-highest ninth-wicket partnership in Test history.
Victorian Peter Siddle led Australia's attack with 4-81 while spinner Nathan Hauritz took 3-98 and Mitchell Johnson returned figures of 2-127.
Australia's attack was depleted by pace spearhead Lee's absence on Sunday.
Team physio Alex Kountouris said the NSW quick will attempt to bowl in South Africa's second innings despite a stress reaction of the metatarsal bone which could soon turn into a stress fracture.
"At the moment the crack's not there but it's not far away. There's a very strong indication the crack's not far away," Kountouris said.
"So it could be one ball away, it could be 10 balls away.
"I don't think he'll be able to play the Sydney Test (on January 3).
"It would be something between four and six weeks."
Lee's likely absence for his home Test leaves fellow NSW quick Doug Bollinger and Tasmania's Ben Hilfenhaus vying for a Test debut.
After Australia's inability to bowl South Africa out in the first Test in Perth, losing by six wickets as the Proteas made a near-world record 4-414, Ricky Ponting's side need a massive form reversal in the field to win the second Test, especially given Lee's injury.
Adding to the skipper's woes was the ongoing knee problem of all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was finally given a bowl with his off-spinners in the 125th over and took 0-14 from 11 overs.
"It was always going to be harder after losing Brett. Being a bowler down obviously hurt us a lot," Clarke said.
"But we have no excuse. Full credit has to go to the South African batting."
Duminy was surprised at the late introduction of Symonds.
Clarke said: "I have no idea why he didn't come on until so late. I guess you'd probably have to ask Ricky that."
Duminy's seven-and-a-half-hour innings included 18 fours in a grand performance in front of 42,079 fans.
Steyn, who took 5-87 in Australia's first innings, batted for four hours despite several blows to the hands from Australia's pace bowlers.
Steyn was dropped on 32, 33 and 57.
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