It is a squeamish truth for Australian cricket fans but all great dynasties come to an end.
And those fans glimpsed the end on Sunday when JP Duminy hit the winning runs for South Africa in the first test in Perth.
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, no other team in world cricket could have staved off decline as long as Australia did after losing so many great players.
Losing Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill to retirement has taken its toll on the champion side.
But the full extent of Australia's decline became apparent in India earlier this year and again when South Africa chased down 414, the second-highest successful chase in test history, during the series opener.
It seems a question of when, not if, Australia will fall off its perch at the top of world cricket, and how much blood will be shed while Australians get used to riding in the back of the Jag rather than up front in the Rolls Royce.
The hounds are already on the hunt and have got the skipper Ricky Ponting in their line of sight.
"The cricketing empire imagined by Allan Border, forged by Mark Taylor and defended by Steve Waugh is facing its greatest threat after South Africa's marauders subjected Australia to their most dispiriting home defeat of the modern era," Alex Brown wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Robert Craddock, of the The Daily Telegraph, also fired a shot at Ponting for his leadership style and negative body language.
"The message booming out to Australia after losing the unloseable test match is that some of their key players are over-rated, lacking form or too arrogant for their own good. And some, like captain Ricky Ponting, need to have a look at themselves and the damage negative body language can do when the team has been driven on to the backfoot."
Ponting enjoyed one of the most potent attacks in the history of world cricket when he could toss Warne or McGrath the ball.
With 1271 test wickets between them the duo could turn almost any match around.
These days, Ponting must have a heavy heart and an overwhelming sense of loss when he flips the ball to their replacements - Jason Krejza and Peter Siddle. They are not in the same class and few ever will be.
And then there is the form of Brett Lee, who has undergone a remarkable transformation from fearsome strike bowler to speedy trundler in the space of the last 10 months.
He took one for 132 in the first test and his place in the side is in serious doubt. He seems to be surviving on reputation alone.
But while Ponting is pondering how South Africa was able to score 187 for the loss of one wicket on the last day of a test, he might want to cast an eye over the form of the top order.
Like Lee, Matthew Hayden is struggling to find his best form. With scores of 12 and four against South Africa and 8, 0, and 24 against New Zealand, the prolific opener is under pressure with some critics suggesting he should bring his retirement forward.
"Mr Cricket", Michael Hussey, suddenly looks mortal after two misses and Ponting's average has dipped after a lean run recently.
It might be premature to predict Australia's demise but the six-wicket loss was the first time it has lost the opening test of a home series since 1988.
And if South Africa can win the next two tests, it will claim the top spot in the world rankings.
The missing links: Recently retired Australian cricketers
Justin Langer105 tests, 7696 runs at 45.27.
Glenn McGrath124 tests, 563 wickets at 21.64.
Shane Warne145 tests, 708 wickets at 25.41 and 3154 runs at 17.32.
Adam Gilchrist96 tests, 379 catches, 37 stumpings, 5570 runs at 47.60.
Jason Gillespie71 tests, 259 wickets at 26.13.
Stuart MacGill44 tests, 208 wickets at 29.02.
Damien Martyn67 tests, 4406 runs at 46.37.
