Regardless of the remarkable turnaround in Perth it didn’t take much more than a session on Boxing Day to underline the awful reality of Australia's current slot in the pecking order of world cricket.

Blind Freddie would be well and truly aware we're poised on the cusp of a new era of Australian cricket, and when it comes to the if and when of the transition, it's very much a question of how soon and which way from here?

Perth might have delayed the how soon? but it hasn't delayed it by much. The on-field performance towards the end of Boxing Day suggests that we're going to be in for some major upheavals.

Be ready for an extremely rocky ride in you're an Australian supporter and a lengthy spell of vengeful glee if you're not.

The question of future directions is going to take a while to sort out, and along the way it might be helpful to figure out what went wrong towards the end of the Ponting era (not that it takes much figuring in the literal sense) and I've spent a number of mornings pondering whether the current situation is the product of:

(a) wishful thinking;

(b) delusions of grandeur;

(c) misguided optimism;

(d) an unwillingness to recognize that mistakes have been made; or

(e) all of the above.

Personally, I'd be going for Option (e) but if pushed to pick a single cause I'd be inclined to ascribe the current situation to wishful thinking, suggesting that the others follow on from that, as inevitably as the blood follows a punch on the nose.

The wishbone will never, as the saying goes, replace the backbone. Theory does not always translate into practice.

Those ponderings developed into a rather lengthy and increasingly unfocussed rant that has diverted Hughesy's attention from other things that we need to be getting on with, so it's time to call a halt to that little exercise and see what I can come up with by way of a summary.

Anyone reading this who wishes to discuss these matters further only needs to click the Email me button.

So, let's look at those factors one by one. Predictably, there's a fair bit of overlap, particularly between wishful thinking and delusions of grandeur, but I've come up with a number of contributing elements, presented in summary as a series of dot points under the relevant heading.

Wishful thinking:

• Ricky Ponting's delusion that he has tactical nous, strategic vision, man management skills that match his undoubted brilliance with the bat and in the field.
  • Additional delusions that his skills are as good as they were and that opponents won't exploit personal foibles by winding him up (a la the Pratt affair in 2005 and the recent umpiring referral imbroglio).
  • The further misguided expectation that he'll still be on the scene to lead the Ashes campaign in 2013.
  • We can get by without a full time chairman of selectors, and there's no need to maintain close links with state and national coaching staff and support personnel or to discuss selection matters with key stake-holders.
  • Deep down, all our opponents really love us, and are willing to lie down and accept being beaten by a side they know and recognize are innately superior.
  • We don't need to sledge (actually, we do, but we call it something else like mental disintegration) and the opposition won't dish it up back to us because they think we're so wonderful.
  • The opposition will accept that we're totally honest as far as disputed catches and things like that are concerned, and at the same time will accept our right to question their honesty in that regard.
  • Coming up with a document full of motherhood statements about the spirit of the game will transfer automatically into on field practice and will be accepted by everyone else of our bona fides and proof that the Ugly Australian is a thing of the past.
  

Delusions of grandeur:

• Number One on the pecking order is our rightful spot, and can be maintained without the need for long term strategic planning.
  • The Australian setup is so good that it will automatically deliver results, but is so peculiarly Australian that opponents can't replicate it and tweak the copy to make it better.
  • Our domestic competition is played at a level that delivers a stream of players who are in form and ready to fit straight in at the highest level.
  • We have enough depth in the squad’s batting order to allow us to carry an extra bowler into the game in case Mitchell Johnson doesn’t fire.
  

Misguided optimism:

• Mitchell Johnson
  • The only thing we need to do is continue with current practice and preparation routines and things will fall neatly into place after a temporary setback.
  • With a bit of luck (which usually involves a coin falling the right way) everything will be fine.
  • There's an endless stream of up and coming kids who are ready willing and able to fit into the side at the top level.
  • Michael Clarke has the temperament, man management skills and fitness level that makes him the natural long term successor to Ponting, who still has the belief he'll be leading the side in 2013.
  

Unwillingness to admit that mistakes have been made:

• The failure to come up with serious contenders (apart from Nathan Hauritz, who obviously isn't generally regarded as good enough to be a long term prospect) for the spin bowler's slot in the scheme of things.
  • Ponting's my way or the highway because everything's really just hunky dory and if we work hard enough we'll be fine approach, which brings us to the big question regarding the captaincy.
  

Ponting has to go, and there are four reasons why he has to go after next year's World Cup, if he lasts that long.

First, my way or the highway means we don't have the flexibility we need when we're looking at options. Part of the problem is his refusal to bat anywhere other than Three.

Second, he's nowhere near the tactical genius that he thinks he is. That's not to suggest that there's anyone better in the side, but when you combine it with the first point it's a dangerous combination.

Third, there's that degree of petulance that certain opposition sides have worked out how to exploit. It's not just that judgement flies out the window when the red mist comes down, there's also the fact that the old rally 'round the leader, boys routine is a distraction for the rest of the side, particularly when it seems you need to be rather careful to ensure that Ricky's on your side. If in doubt about that point you might want to have a yarn to Nathan Hauritz.

That's going to be an important consideration when you consider that our next three Test series are against Sri Lanka, South Africa and India.

Now, you'd suggest that an away series in Sri Lanka would probably be the best option if you wanted to look at another candidate for the captaincy anyway, and it's probably the best opportunity to try out a few options before the more challenging prospect of dealing with South Africa at home.

When we get to South Africa we're going to be facing an opposition with scores to settle, and home crowds with an established record of aggro. Ponting as captain will be pushed, taunted, niggled and on form you'd expect fireworks as a result.

Then we have to deal with India who will be bringing baggage from last time they were here, and there'll be plenty of niggle from the likes of Harbajan and Sreesanth.

Finally, there's the question of whether he's the best candidate to bat at Three. Recent form, taken on top of those other factors, suggests he isn't.

Unfortunately, if he's unwilling to consider batting anywhere else, he's going to have to go.