The end is nigh! Not the end of the world or anything like that, but the end of Australia’s domination of world cricket which, to us Aussies, is a much more serious problem.

Losing one game, taken in isolation, should not be sufficiently dramatic to bring out the doom merchants, but it was the manner of the losing that has the furrowed brow brigade murmuring. Australia were comprehensively outplayed by a hungrier, more motivated and flexible Indian side – something that hasn’t happened to the Aussie team since the 2005 Ashes.

Even during that dreadful series in England, there was always the feeling that Australia had lost the games as opposed to England actually winning. Not so in Perth. India won the toss and from then on dictated the outcome of the game – a role that usually is handled by the Aussies.

'Giving Mitchell Johnson the new ball is the cricketing equivalent of putting Ronald Biggs in charge of train timetables'


As in 2005, it was an inability to cope with swing bowling that let the side down. The usually dominant and authoritative batting line-up wilted against some world-class swing bowling by the Indian quicks. A dominance that was underscored by a wonderful demolition of Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting by youngster Ishant Sharma.

Again, as in 2005, it was the inability of the batsmen to leave balls that got them into trouble. The Australian success of the last two decades has been predicated on aggression. The fast-scoring, attacking style, when it works, puts uncertainty in the minds of the opposition bowlers – forcing them to change their line and length.

This process starts with the opening batsmen and Matthew Hayden’s belligerent approach to opening bowlers often prevents them from dictating terms. His presence was sorely missed, but sometimes aggression isn’t the answer.

Ponting’s crisis of confidence could not have come at a worse time, either. There was great hope that the absence of Harbhajan Singh would finally allow him to score some runs. Alas, Sharma picked up where Bhajji left off and so Punter’s bad run continues.

The real problems, however, are with the ball and, tellingly, with Ponting’s management of the bowlers. There was a great fear that the loss of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne would mortally wound the Australian bowling attack. For a while, it appeared that the fears were unfounded but the cracks have started to appear.

Brett Lee has taken on the mantle of spearhead of the attack and, with Troy Cooley’s tutelage, has learned to bowl within himself and has developed control and accuracy to go with his blistering pace. That’s where the good news ends.

The Aussie brains trust – no that’s not an oxymoron – is persisting with giving Mitchell Johnson the new ball. This is the cricketing equivalent of putting Ronald Biggs in charge of train timetables – he simply can’t be trusted and it relieves any pressure that Lee is able to generate.

Exactly what Stuart Clark has done to deserve being relegated to first change is unclear. Clark has earned his stripes over the last couple of seasons and certainly has more control and wicket-taking potential than Johnson. Comparisons to McGrath are genuine and well earned – for crying out loud, give him the new ball!

As fragile as the quick line-up is, the slow bowlers are a cause for serious despair. Stuart MacGill is not the answer. While MacGill has the potential to take wickets, he is only able to do so when the opposition is under pressure – you don’t get wickets from waist-high full-tosses when the batsmen are feeling comfortable.

Brad Hogg, too has been a disappointment. He is a well-established one-day bowler, but has been unable to translate that form to the long game, despite repeated attempts. There are a few youngsters who show some promise, but none ready yet to make the next step.

Ponting’s captaincy, too, revealed its fragility when placed under the microscope. The metaphorical drover’s dog could have captained the Aussie side over the last five years. When everyone was on deck, they were unbeatable – even in the hands of an inexperienced and unimaginative skipper. But when placed under pressure, Punter is unwilling to take risks or make dramatic changes.

If that was where it stopped, then maybe the team could cope, but what is worse is that his mishandling of the bowlers actually breaks their confidence. Followers of Aussie cricket will remember how Ponting’s refusal to use Jason Gillespie in the 2005 Ashes series, particularly after losing McGrath on the morning of the second Test, broke the big quick's confidence.

The treatment of Shaun Tait in Perth had many unwelcome familiarities. Confidence is a big thing with sportsmen and it is plain dumb to risk losing a player because the captain doesn’t trust him to do his job. It would have never happened under Steve Waugh or Mark Taylor. Maybe Punter just doesn’t like South Aussies!

It isn’t really that bad. The Aussies have only lost one game after winning 16 in a row – but 12 of them were with Warne and McGrath, two were against an under-prepared and disinterested Sri Lanka. One was against an underdone India and the arguments about their final win will continue for years. Make no mistake, this is still a bloody good Aussie side, it’s just no longer a great one.

It may well get there but, for now, here’s looking to a few years of competitive cricket for a change.