PERTH, Dec 24: Two legendary cricketers announced their retirement from Australia's national side this week, but former captain Kim Hughes believes it is now better able to handle the loss of superstars.

Champion spinner Shane Warne and veteran paceman Glenn McGrath both announced their decisions to quit, following batsmen Damien Martyn into retirement and signalling a period of upheaval for the national side.

It last faced a similar situation some 20 years ago, when Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell and Rod Marsh retired in 1984. They left a gaping void that took several years to fill.

Warne will hang up his whites after the Ashes series, while McGrath's final challenge will be the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist are also in the twilight of their international careers.

So the next two years will see a major generational change in an Australian side currently on a 10-Test winning streak.

Hughes, who led Australia during the turbulence following the departures of Lillee, Chappell and Marsh, said on Sunday the latest retirements would dent Australia's dominance at Test level — but that it would be a soft landing.

He pointed out there was no outstanding opponent, compared with the fearsome West Indies in the 1980s, and said domestic cricket now had more depth.

“I think we won't win as many games,” Hughes said.

“Where we've got wins in the past, there will be draws. We won't be able to win nine out of nine, and 10 out of 10 and that sort of thing.

“Sides are going to hang on a bit more, because whenever we have been in trouble we've thrown the ball to either Warne or McGrath or both.”

Australia reaffirmed their status as clearly the best side in both one-day and Test match cricket by reclaiming the Ashes and winning its first Champions Trophy.

The defence of the World Cup, meanwhile, is just months away. The record of a 16-Test winning streak by Steve Waugh's side between 1999 and 2001 is also in the sights.

Hughes identified injury-plagued Shane Watson as a key player in the next phase of Australian Test cricket.

“Of greater importance now is the all-rounder position,” Hughes said. “We could get away with four bowlers because of the two champs. Without the two champs, we are going to need an extra bowler. Watson will become very, very important indeed.”

After the retirement of Lillee, Marsh and Chappell, Australia slumped and won just four of their next 29 Tests, going eight series without a win.

The drought broke with successive home series wins against New Zealand in 1987-88 and then Sri Lanka the following season.

Australia finally regained the Ashes in England in 1989 and it proved to be the dawn of a new golden era for Australian cricket.—AFP