Concerns over their captain, selection issues and a lack of fight. Australia are at a cricketing crossroads.
The future is uncertain for Australia and their under-fire skipper
Losing an Ashes series in England is one thing, but failure to win in their own backyard, and to be consigned to that fate with a Test to spare too, is a bitter pill for any Australian to swallow.
They have been here before of course, albeit not for some time now.
Back in 1986, England clinched a series win Down Under thanks to a resounding triumph at the MCG that was built around them skittling the hosts cheaply on day one.
On that occasion Gladstone Small proved to be the perfect horse for the Melbourne course; taking seven wickets as he was named man of the match. Tim Bresnan has this time around been an inspired pick by the selectors, particularly as Steven Finn - the leading wicket-taker in the series going into the match - was the one that they had to leave out.
Crossroads
Now, with no chance of gaining back the Ashes heading to Sydney, Australia are at a similar crossroads to the one they faced 24 years ago.
For some long-term gain there may have to be some short-term pain, as was the case for Allan Border's side back in the 80's. Back then they identified players who could become cornerstones for their future, those who had not only the talent but also the temperament to succeed at the highest level.
Quite astonishing as it might seem now, questions were asked then over whether Border was the man to lead Australia forward.
The same doubts now loom over Ricky Ponting's reign. Even before his lengthy haranguing of umpires Aleem Dar and Tony Hill on day two at the 'G' after a failed referral against Kevin Pietersen, the Tasmanian looked like a man at the end of his tether.
A lack of runs has not helped his cause, while it has always been levelled at him that he lacked the ability to think outside the box when things were going wrong. And could he carry on playing in the team if he wasn't skipper? Would whoever was chosen to take over what him looming large in the background?
Michael Clarke is the heir apparent, but he has convinced nobody of his leadership skills during his time in charge of the Twenty20 team. Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin are established options, while Cameron White - seen as a one-day specialist up until now - is an intriguing outsider.
Whoever is in charge by the time Australia's next Test series comes around they must be given help by a selection panel that has acted all 'English' during this Ashes battle.
England used to adopt something of a revolving door policy when those wearing the Baggy Green were dominant. Players were in and out of the XI in a desperate attempt to find a formula capable of competing with their rivals.
Spin issues
The boot has been firmly on the other foot during this series, though, starting with the hopeful punt on Xavier Doherty. Australia's selectors were quite literally in a spin over who should be their slow bowler. In the end it appeares they've stopped bothering with one at all.
Doherty's days at Test level seem to be over while Michael Beer, his replacement in the squad, has so far been overlooked. His non-selection in Perth was understandable due to the surface, but his continuation in his role as 12th man in Melbourne was hardly a vote of confidence in his abilities. Steven Smith is a promising talent but is not good enough yet with either bat or ball to command a place in the five-day format.
Meanwhile, Nathan Hauritz - the slow bowler backed by captain and coach during a difficult tour of India earlier this year and who did well in the Ashes series in England last year - has seemingly been thrown on the scrapheap.
The selectors haven't been much more convincing when it comes to the make-up of their seam attack. Mitchell Johnson (who is perfectly summed up by Winston Churchill's quote: "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma") and Ben Hilfenhaus weren't deemed good enough after the draw in Brisbane, yet were quickly recalled after the heavy defeat in Adelaide.
Peter Siddle, meanwhile, started and finished with a bang but offered little more than a whimper in between - what Australia wouldn't give for another Glenn McGrath to come along.
And that is one of the major problems for Australia; they now have to live without modern-day legends McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne, not to mention the likes of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn.
Climbing to the top of world cricket was a long and gruelling challenge for Australia, one that was aided by Ashes pain on home turf. This series has emphatically proven how quickly Australia has fallen from such lofty heights. The series could yet be drawn, but that will barely be a crumb of comfort.
