Cricket Australia has frantically been searching for a solution to the inadequate Test opposition touring the country this summer. With four Tests already completed without troubling the Day 5 gatekeepers, both revenue and face have been lost in abundant quantities.

Not much was expected from the West Indies who turned up for a couple of warm-up Tests in November. The once mighty cricketing affiliation of Caribbean nations has not been competitive in the red ball format since before Brian Lara retired. It was no shock to see them lose Tests in Perth and Adelaide, both with days left over to explore the brilliant local wineries and challenging golf courses. Under the new Test Championship structure Australia must give all comers a run, so that the two best teams are fairly evaluated before the final at The Oval.

South Africa, positioned second on the Championship table at the beginning of the summer, were set to be the true test of Australia’s abilities, particularly with the bat, as the Proteas boasted what was claimed to be the most lethal fast bowling line-up on the planet.

So far that fearsome attack has managed to claim 21 of a possible 40 wickets across the opening two Tests, taking just 14 wickets in the Brisbane Test despite the Gabba pitch being an ugly green vipers’ nest which South African captain Dean Elger claimed was bordering on dangerous.

More alarmingly it took a batting effort from those same lethal bowlers to drag the Proteas past a score of 200 for the first time in living memory. The 204 they scraped together in the second innings at the MCG helped them to an embarrassing innings and 182 run defeat, in the process surrendering the series in straight sets. To be slightly fair to the South African bowlers, innings scores of 152, 99, 189 and 204 would currently fail to win a BBL clash against Melbourne Stars.

Now the bitterly disappointing Proteas head to the SCG, with pride the only trophy available to them. Elger has stated rather astutely that a 2-1 series loss would be better than a 3-0 humiliation, but they seem distinctly incapable of achieving the victory on their own. The Sydney Test will be lucky to make it to the weekend, unless something drastic is done.

It may be too late now, but the one simple solution would have been the use of two pitches at the SCG. The groundsman should have been asked to prepare a raging green top to rival the Gabba, one that would provide the utmost assistance to any pace bowling attack. Regardless of the toss, only the Australians would be required to bat on this pitch, allowing the world’s most fearsome bowling attack every opportunity to showcase their skills.

Adjacent to the turf pitch, they should have dropped in a synthetic pitch, very much like the thousands found in the middle of Australian suburban cricket grounds. Not a brand new one of course, because the fresh synthetic surface is known to offer some life. Rather, one of those really tired, sun bleached ones, full of grit from being covered over for countless football seasons. Preferably not one that has been vandalised by fire-lighting hooligans, as the black melted areas could be utilised immediately by Nathan Lyon.

The South African batting line up, led by Elgar, their best batsman, who averages 37.9, would have batted only on the synthetic strip. With luck and a few more key injuries to Australian bowlers, they could have scratched together a decent total, one which their bowlers might have defended on the minefield the Australians would bat on.

It might seem like a radical concept, defying logic and flying in the face of everything you have come to know and love about cricket. But in a time when we have players hopping through the crowd juggling the ball in order to claim a catch, anything is possible in this once great game.