There are many words to describe Australia's collapse to 233 all out in the fourth innings of the second Test against New Zealand in Hobart. Inept, brainless, shameful, careless and unprofessional all hit the mark. Perhaps the most difficult description for the new Australian administration to come to terms with is inconsistent, or worse, predictably inconsistent.

The brutal reality is Australia's batting order no longer operates as a successful unit. It is stacked with individuals selected for their potential best score (however infrequent) above the likelihood of their capacity for low scores (however frequent). This problem is compounded by a significant disparity between batting success and failure.

Using poker terminology, Australia's batsmen have developed a culture of going all-in, with predictably extreme outcomes.

Phil Hughes is the obvious culprit and must surely be no chance for the Boxing Day Test. He retained his place in the New Zealand series because he hit 88 in the second and final Test in South Africa. None of his other three scores that series were above 11. Hughes was only in South Africa because in the previous series against Sri Lanka he hit 126 in the third and final Test. His other scores that series - 36, 28, 12 and 0.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Michael Clarke. Despite appearing to be in career-best form, as evidenced by three centuries in his last nine innings, the skipper has accumulated just 33 in his other six.

Where are the scores in between? The stodgy 40s? The streaky 60s? Where are the bread and butter runs that hold partnerships together and avert collapses?

Where is this generation's Steve Waugh?

Where, even, is Simon Katich? In 33 innings from the start of the 2009 Ashes, Katich only failed to make 20 on ten occasions. His downfall was brought about by scoring only three hundreds in that time. He may not always have cashed in but rarely did he let his side down and always did he value his wicket.

Ricky Ponting has chipped in with a couple of 40s recently, but they are his peaks, with the former captain failing to pass 16 in 12 of his last 18 innings. Brad Haddin has a smattering of 30s and 50s and is often a feature of crucial partnerships, but he is forever handicapped by reckless dismissals making a mockery of his current sportswear advertisements.

Excluding run-chases, in the last two years Australia has failed to reach 100 three times. Prior to that, the last three sub-100 scores came in 2004 and twice in 1984.

There exists a destructive, junkie mentality, in which batting is all about the ‘next big score.' It has contributed to the most brittle line up in modern Australian history, yet the same batsmen continue to be selected and continue to ‘play their natural games' under the impression that success is measured individually, not collectively.

Australia lacks both fight and intelligence.

Until Peter Siddle arrived at the crease in the first innings there was no indication any Australian had analysed the conditions and adapted their games. While all around him went hard with their hands at balls outside off stump, Siddle minimised his backlift, played with caution and accumulated runs in the gaps.

That's what Test cricket looks like sometimes. It's ugly, it's slow, it's arduous, but it gets the job done.

It's not as if Siddle and his teammates had not had a guide as to how to bat on the Hobart pitch. Dean Browline, the only New Zealander to master the playing surface on day one, did that for them. It is worrying to think that despite this advance instruction on how to cope in bowler-friendly situations so many of Australia's dismissals were predictable to the point of inevitability.

This gripe at Australian batting's should also acknowledge New Zealand's bowling. As a group, Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and the standout, Doug Bracewell, deserve great credit for creating the opportunities for Australia's batsmen to fail. On the whole, they bowled full, to a good line, and the Black Cap fielders held their catches.

But how many Australian batsmen can say they fell to unplayable deliveries?

Australia has to jettison the boom and bust mentality dominating selection and retention. The prevalence of low scores should count equally, if not more so, than the occasional score and hint of form. This is no longer a champion team, nor a team of champions. Mistakes cannot be accommodated safe in the knowledge another legend will bail the side out.

The Australian batting order needs a serious change in mindset. It is unlikely this will come with a serious change in personnel, not by Boxing Day anyway, but every individual charged with making runs should now be on notice.