Can't say that this was a shock.
Wouldn't surprise me if TV ratings/attendances continue to decline over the summer like in the 2010/11 Ashes, further denting this side's prestige and reputation.
The average Australian cricket fan might state otherwise, but they're not dedicated like most of us on this forum - they're not that interested in watching losing sides.
I dislike chopping and changing sides, but surely Marsh's position is untenable bar a second innings miracle, given Ashwin's record against him? Apparently Burns has been travelling well; could he open and have Finch move down to the middle order (maybe #5)? Also I would bring back Maxwell, if only because he's a right-hander, but that will never happen.
At least having an order full of right-handers might blunt Ashwin's effectiveness.
I think a 6 month ban would have sufficed if CA wanted to placate a baying media/public. They could still say that they were sending a message about bad behaviour (given that no-one has been banned for 6 months for ball-tampering). Plus by the end of the ban the media and public would have moved on to other things. The reputation/prestige of the side would also have not taken any further hits on the field, which looks quite likely ATM.
A good example of such is how Mark Waugh's past association with bookmakers was exposed during the 1998/99 Ashes series (a worse offence than what Smith/Warner/Bancroft did). He was booed during the Adelaide Test but by the Boxing Day Test the media and public had largely moved on to other things.
When Harbhajan Singh of all people suggests that the bans were too harsh, it does give you pause.