Australia coach Andrew McDonald is adamant the players he took to the T20 World Cup were good enough, but the evidence suggests otherwise, with a rebuild looming before they co-host the next tournament with New Zealand in 2028.
The former white-ball heavyweights head home to a significant pile-on from former Australian greats and an acerbic media who expected more.
They have been quick to lob sharp criticism at the underperforming players and perceived selection blunders.
“We said at the start of this World Cup that we were concerned about Australia,” pace great Glenn McGrath told reporters, pointing to the absence of fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as exposing a soft underbelly.
“All of a sudden, the aura of that Australian team is no longer there when other teams play it … unfortunately, not surprising.”
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