Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Australia just don't seem to get things right in the shortest version of cricket.
Champions in every other form, they just don't fire in the Twenty20. And when the team's best player is sent home for alcoholic and other indiscretions, it just doesn't help.
Something seems to be seriously wrong with the Australia. They have lost consistency and sparkle.
The bristling menace of yore was missing. They seemed dazed and confused when the West Indies belted them out of the Twenty20 World Cup.
There is no lack of ability. It's just that the Australian cricketing scenario is changing.
Australia will have to do some soul searching on their attitude and approach if they want to mark a mark in Twenty20 cricket.
Firstly, many of the top Australian players do not get enough exposure to this format due to the nature of their domestic itinerary. Some of them also opted out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which provided a perfect platform to hone whatever skills required for Twenty20.
Secondly, the new schoolmaster approach must be abandoned for the good of their cricket as a whole. This is directly related to the case of Symonds.
Symonds is no schoolboy but an ageing swinger who is frustrated by the team and its new culture. A better job could have been done to straighten out Symonds.
It was botched up right at the start when Symonds was recalled before his rehabilitation was over. As expected more indiscretions came.
The Australians got the perfect situation to bring the cane down on Symonds over team violations which were deemed not very serious.
Symonds was the key component for Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup. He was in fine form in the IPL and was instrumental in helping the Deccan Chargers win the final.
He was the perfect team man for the Chargers and he constantly advised his captain and the many inexperienced young players in the side.
The curtains have now been pulled down on his career almost certainly. But there are many teams around the world who are just waiting to grab Symonds.
The Australian psyche is such that they will think what they have done is right. But they have thrown away a player whose utility was beyond doubt.
Australia would also do well to adopt the horses-for-courses theory and get in some of the untried players who perform in the domestic competition.
There are plenty of them who can fit in as the Australian cricket system is of a very high standard.
Most importantly, the aggressive intent of the Australians must come back. Of late, they tend to lower their tempo in all forms of cricket.
That is not Australia. All they need to do is check some of the innings played by their recently retired star Adam Gilchrist in the IPL.
That may open their eyes. And a bit more foul mouthing perhaps could evoke Australia's well tried out recipe for success.
