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Cape Town - Australian all-rounder Shane Watson conceded there was panic in their dressing room after they capitulated in their second innings in the first Test against South Africa at Newlands.
"There's no doubt there was panic," Watson told the website, ESPNcricinfo. "Just seeing the scoreboard ... it was horrendous really, to be able to think we were 9 for 21 is a complete and utter disaster. I think that is a time in the change-rooms when you do panic."
Watson also said their batters' mindset was wrong going into their second innings after they bowled South Africa out cheaply.
The Aussies dismissed the Proteas for 96 in their first innings to gain a 188-run lead.
However, what was to follow was utter disaster for the Australians as they capitulated to 47 all out - their lowest total since 1902 - to leave the home side needing 236 for victory, which they easily managed with 8 wickets in hand.
Watson had just taken 5 for 17 and admits his and the team's approach going in to bat in their second innings was way out of line.
"I think my mindset was wrong. My mindset was like it always is, aggressive, but I also had to make sure I got through a certain period of time because I knew the ball was still swinging and seaming around enough to be able to put doubt in your mind [as to] where the ball's going to be," said Watson.
"There's no doubt that my mindset, in the end, was wrong. Unfortunately I think if all our batsmen look back, our mindsets were wrong and how we approached it. We definitely thought that we were going to be able to get a decent total and unfortunately we got nowhere near that."
"There's no doubt there was panic," Watson told the website, ESPNcricinfo. "Just seeing the scoreboard ... it was horrendous really, to be able to think we were 9 for 21 is a complete and utter disaster. I think that is a time in the change-rooms when you do panic."
Watson also said their batters' mindset was wrong going into their second innings after they bowled South Africa out cheaply.
The Aussies dismissed the Proteas for 96 in their first innings to gain a 188-run lead.
However, what was to follow was utter disaster for the Australians as they capitulated to 47 all out - their lowest total since 1902 - to leave the home side needing 236 for victory, which they easily managed with 8 wickets in hand.
Watson had just taken 5 for 17 and admits his and the team's approach going in to bat in their second innings was way out of line.
"I think my mindset was wrong. My mindset was like it always is, aggressive, but I also had to make sure I got through a certain period of time because I knew the ball was still swinging and seaming around enough to be able to put doubt in your mind [as to] where the ball's going to be," said Watson.
"There's no doubt that my mindset, in the end, was wrong. Unfortunately I think if all our batsmen look back, our mindsets were wrong and how we approached it. We definitely thought that we were going to be able to get a decent total and unfortunately we got nowhere near that."
