It's more a media thing than CA. Yes there is talk from CA about it, partly because they know that there are going to be a few players to either be pushed out by then or retire immediately after the home series. By the time the Ashes series in 2013-14 here finishes there will of been a full generational change in the side and we must not lose focus on that.
We slipped in the rankings because we never properly planned what would happen when Hayden, Gilly and co retired. if we don't learn from that leason then we could have another period like the mid 80s and no-one wants that.
That's over simplified a bit. The mid 80s was a shit time in Australian test cricket for a number of factors:
- The Packer vs Australian cricket board hangover.
- A leadership vacuum because Greg Chappell decided to do whatever he wanted and left Kim Hughes in the lurch.
- We played the WIs every second series and they smashed us constantly.
I'd actually suggest that the player losses we've had recently have been much worse than in the 80s, but we've dealt with them really well.
In 1984 G. Chappell, Lillee and Marsh all retired together. Chappell was waning, but could still have great innings, Lillee was in serious decline, and Marsh was a handy keeper batsman who was slightly overrated in my opinion.
Our recent losses were Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie and McGrath, yet we still haven't been smashed in a series since then.
And we have seen Clarke's leadership is solid, good signs from Warner (although he needs to push on beyond 40), a good spinner in Lyon, and an enviable young pace battery. The one thing lacking is young batsmen dominating, but it'll come I reckon.