Michael Hussey has taken aim at the selectors of Australia's one-day team in the wake of yet another ODI failure.
Last week, Australia suffered their fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series defeat, and have won just three of their past 23 ODIs, making for horrific reading for the World Cup holders just seven months out from their defence of the title.
Hussey pointed the finger at selectors for fostering a culture of selfishness in the side as a result of the constant chopping and changing of the ODI XI, with continuity at a premium.
A whopping 20 players have debuted for Australia since the 2015 World Cup - three in 2015 following the World Cup, seven in 2016, five in 2017 and five in 2018.
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Since the beginning of 2015, six different captains have skippered the Aussie ODI side - Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, David Warner, George Bailey, Tim Paine and incumbent Aaron Finch.
In 60 completed matches since the 2015 World Cup, Australia have won just 28. In 26 completed matches since the beginning of 2017, Australia have won just seven.
In 13 matches in 2018, Australia won just two, marking their worst reap in a calendar year in ODIs in 40 years.
Skipper Finch suggested recent troubles at the sport's national governing body could be impacting the team's performance.
For Hussey, something has to give, and it starts with those picking the side.
"Look at it from the player's perspective... he's going to come out there thinking, 'Well, what to do I do? Do I play for myself here?'" Hussey told the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast.
"'Because I don’t know if I’m going to get a game next time... or do I play for the team?'
"'And what role is required for the team now might mean just teeing off and giving your wicket away'.
"But unfortunately it brings in a bit more of a selfish culture and environment, because you're just worried about your place in the team."
The flux in Australian cricket is such that, in the 13 ODI matches in 2018, 25 players were used. Only Marcus Stoinis played in every match.
Hussey - who played 185 of a possible 225 ODI matches between his 2004 debut and final match in 2012 - suggested the best teams in world cricket play selflessly off the back of continuity and rhythm.
Granted, Hussey played alongside the likes of Ponting, McGrath, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee, Clarke, and the like during Australia's strongest white-ball era. Back then, players could sleep easy at night.
Now though, even today's star studded bowling attack - let alone the batsmen - carry question marks over whether they hold the tools required to attack the modern 50-over format.
"They play for the team knowing that even if they have a couple of low scores or things don’t go their way because they’re trying to do the right thing by the team, that they know the selectors or the coach is going to stick with them," Hussey said.
"And invariably what happens is when you see those selfless acts from your players and they start to infiltrate into other players, the culture of the team grows and things start going your way.
"One of the important ingredients in any successful team... that they know exactly what their role in the team is.
"Even then, we've chopped and changed the team around in the batting order and things like that.
"If you can just lock down on a role that you feel comfortable with, you know you’ve got the backing... it gives you the best chance of performing consistently."
