London, Aug 10 (IANS): Former Australia captain Ian Chappell called for a complete rethink of Australia's domestic cricket system after the team's crushing defeat in the ongoing Ashes series in England.

Chappell also forecast dark days ahead due to the lack of batting depth in the domestic system. Australia lost the five-match Ashes 1-3 with still a match to be played.

"Normally you'd be highly critical of the selection panel for doing that, but you have to have sympathy for the selection panel, because what they would obviously like is a lot of young players churning out runs regularly in first-class cricket, and sadly that's just not happening," Chappell was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo on Sunday.

"I think there are some guys there with a lot of skill. But whether they would do any better against the moving ball than what we've seen lately - you wouldn't want to be betting your house on it."

Australia's major failures in recent years have come when the ball has moved, either in spinning conditions or against seam and swing. Chappell said during his playing days, batsmen were exposed to enough variety in conditions during Sheffield Shield cricket that they had confidence in their techniques when asked to tour countries such as England or India, which he believes does not happen now.

"Young players are going to be playing with an IPL contract in mind," If I can show that I'm a terrific hitter of the ball and I can score at eight an over, that could get me a big IPL contract," he said.

"So the question you've got to ask yourself is, are they developing techniques that make it easier to play in that manner, to score at eight and ten runs an over and be terrific hitters?" Chappell said.