Is this the end of a dynasty?

It is a fair question and one that must be asked in the wake of not just yesterday's collapse, but the startling themes of the past seven days of bare-knuckled Test combat between Australia and India. Even if Australia wriggles off the canvas and wins the third Test, it can be said with some surety that the mighty Australian aura is fading. Since the start of the Sydney Test, India has stood toe-to-toe and eyeball-to-eyeball with Australia, highlighting some deficiencies and cutting down some lofty reputations.

This was something of an unknown Australia, sapped, by circumstance and attrition, of much of its renowned hard-headedness. Missing were not only Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, but here, temporarily, Matthew Hayden; four stronger players in the mind Australia has not known. In their place were four players with a total of 13 Tests between them and already learning harsh lessons about how begrudging opponents, umpires and luck are in Test cricket.