KEY POINTS:
You can wave goodbye to our World Cup chances right now unless John Bracewell rediscovers his nerve in the next few weeks.
What we saw the other night in Mohali was merely a replay of what we've seen on countless previous occasions against Australia - same suspects, same problems, same results.
This might not come as a news flash, but if we continue along this path we simply can't win next year's World Cup. We won't get past Australia in any circumstances and we're likely to trip up against any other side who perform on the day.
Look at it from this point of view. We had pretty much the same batsmen in the past two world cups and we didn't get close to winning either of them, which suggests we won't get close next year either.
If the present lot were suddenly going to turn into world-beaters, they would have done so a long time ago. So we need to accept that, if we continue to support the incumbents, we cannot win the World Cup.
I'm a bit perplexed because Bracewell appeared to have come to terms with that reality last season when he started making some bold decisions over the future of players such as Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan.
He introduced Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton and Jamie How but then did a back-flip when it came to the Champions Trophy. I thought he'd got himself on to the right track but now I'm not sure where he is.
I'm not sure if he does.
On top of that, skipper Stephen Fleming effectively conceded on Thursday that the team weren't good enough, telling an after-match press conference that there was nothing wrong with the players' sense of fight, it was just that they lacked the necessary skills.
It was a huge call from an international captain, in that he might as well have come right out and said we weren't up to it. That was what he meant and I've got to agree with him.
So why not change things?
I've said it once and I'll say it again, Brendon McCullum is wasted as an end-of-the-innings specialist and should be encouraged to take on a role further up the order. Not only would that help the batting but it would free up a spot lower down for another bowling option.
McCullum could be another Adam Gilchrist if given the chance and, in fact, I've got a sneaking suspicion he is. But he'll never be that type of player if they continue to bat him at No 7 and 8. Imagine if the Aussies had employed the same mentality with Gilchrist - they'd have never discovered his potential.
As for replacements, Ross Taylor is the obvious man to come into the team if and when Bracewell bites the bullet. He looks as if he's got the skills and he's done everything asked of him at domestic level, so let's see how he goes.
Whatever happens there, if Braces wants to win the World Cup, he'll need to make changes. If he's happy to be eliminated at the semifinal stage, then by all means, he should plod on as is.
But for my money, getting third or fourth is no different from getting ninth, so he might as well take the plunge now.
