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Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian has blasted the side’s middle order and says it’s the “main problem” facing the team.

Positions four to seven combined for just 50 runs in the clash with India and 59 runs in the match against South Africa.

Spin did the bulk of the damage, bringing undone the entire middle order in the India clash and two members of the middle order in the Proteas fixture.

“My concern is the middle order because in 2023 they have averaged 22,” Julian said on SEN radio.

“They are way down compared to all other nations. We are outside the top 15 and South Africa’s middle order are averaging 49.

“We only have one guy who has scored a hundred in that time.

“The middle order is not summing up the game as it is.”

Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey and Cameron Green made up the middle order for the India match, while Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis batted in those positions in the South Africa clash.

“In that first game against India, I didn’t think they needed to bat like they wanted to make 300; they should’ve ground out 240 or 250 and that gets them in the game,” Julian said.

“They are not sensing the certain moments of the game where they need to dig in and then put the foot down when the moment comes up.

“They’ve lost their rhythm and they don’t look sharp enough.

“Senior players need to stand up [and] make something happen.”