New teams for Australia's transition
With Australia in trouble and missing their captain, Peter Roebuck names an alternate team in the Sydney Morning Herald .
Phillip Hughes can open up with Simon Katich. Both shine in every form of the game. Notions that Hughes is not ready are wide of the mark. David Warner and Shaun Marsh can get the grounding they need in Shield cricket. They'll be back. Hashim Amla and JP Duminy are examples of young batsmen who know their games inside out.
Each year since the awards night was first held in 2000 the mood has been merry - it has always been a celebration of another dominant summer. Not this time. At Test and one-day level - Twenty20 is not yet part of the criteria for the medal or associated awards - Ricky Ponting's teams have endured a tough 12 months. The stats aren't pretty.
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo