The retirement of Adam Gilchrist will weaken the Australian team much more, after last season’s high-profile goodbyes.

The Australian management would like the other teams to believe that they are not affected by his retirement. Brad Haddin is the front-runner for the position of the Aussie wicket-keeper, but even he will agree that Gilly's shoes are too big for comfort. Though he has done well in the limited opportunities he has received so far, a full-time job would put more pressure on him.

Typically, filling in for a regular player does not pressurise any batsman – for it is known that once the player recovers from injury or illness, he would take over his normal duties. Haddin is in a similar situation to that of Yuvraj Singh recently.

‘When Hayden goes, Australia will struggle to get off to a good start. This was in evidence during the Perth Test, where two new openers perished in both innings’

The Aussie middle order of Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds has yet to match the exploits of the previous generation – the Waugh brothers and Damien Martyn. 'Mr Cricket' Hussey has shown that he has his weaknesses in batting also – look at his averages in the current series against India for proof. Though it is much better than most of the other players in the series, it is less than the heights he had set during his initial period. Clarke and Symonds have done well in this series – Clarke, in fact, scoring two centuries.

Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist have not managed to get the scoreboard ticking to any great extent. This has also resulted in the Aussie team being under pressure during various points in the series. When Matthew Hayden goes Australia will struggle to get off to a good start. This was in evidence during the Perth Test, where two new openers perished in both innings to the swing and seam of Indian bowlers.

The Aussie bowling has shown some glimpses of the fire of old. But, they have not been able to repeat the exploits of an attack as lethal as Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Shane Warne. Lee has put his hand up to fill in the leadership position, but those who have come in to replace greats like McGrath and Warne have not shown the same abilities.