They’re pointed at Rod Marsh - the team failed in Sri Lanka and South Africa under his selectorship. They’re pointed at Steve Smith – the team has faltered overseas under his captaincy. They’re pointed at Darren Lehmann – the team has failed under his coaching. Critics seem happy to labour under the illusion that each of these men is emperor of some kind of “regime” and that Australian cricket has lived or died by his decisions alone.

The pachyderm in the parlour is this: international cricket teams, particularly Test teams, are being increasingly affected by greed and short-term thinking. Those immediately involved with these teams are battling forces much bigger than the opposition. The game is being weighted in favour of one type of cricket only. When Australia’s once-varied pitches are replaced by homogenous slabs of moribund earth, bowlers of every stripe are discouraged. Batsmen get a false sense of their ability and are found out in Sub-Continental cauldrons. Bowlers of all kinds get over there and simply don’t know how to bowl.

When Australia’s domestic cricket season, once the backbone of Australia’s international success, is rent asunder by T20 scheduling, players lose precious momentum, and the timing of the domestic schedule loses synch with international scheduling. No, this is not a criticism of Big Bash – it’s fantastic!

When we proceed according to the assumption that Test and short-form cricket should co-exist under current conditions, even when the demands of each form are becoming more and more distinct and individual, the long form will suffer. There is room for every form of cricket, but Test cricket might need to be re-potted elsewhere if it is to receive the nutrients it requires, including, I might say, astute marketing. Nothing wrong with that – it only requires vision, and someone who can be bothered. 

Let all forms of the game thrive in their own conditions. Blame is pointless. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of short-term failure while a team is in transition, but let’s at least identify the real problems that beset national teams and those working hard to make them competitive.