England played superbly to take the awkward CB Series trophy after their glorious run began when Ponting suffered a minor hip injury and chose not to play at the SCG. If it was an important game, he said, he would have been ready, but as Australia had qualified for the finals it was better to rest. It was a crucial decision.

The 92-run loss, ending a nine-game winning streak, became the turning point of the series as the confidence of the home side over-rode the need to prevent the opposition gaining momentum. Ponting will now miss the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in New Zealand, which starts on Friday, and while the reasons for the captain and vice-captain skipping the trip are admirable - Ponting has a minor back problem; Adam Gilchrist is preparing for the birth of his third child - the option paints the squad as high, mighty and set for a fall. (If players need in-series breaks then itineraries should be changed instead of diluting the quality.)

The surest sign of egos taking over was when Australia built winning positions and lost them spectacularly. In the first final two opportunities were lost and in the second game they restricted England to a gettable total before imploding with help from Liam Plunkett. Throughout the three defeats to England the players - apart from Ponting and Matthew Hayden in Melbourne - waited for the next man to do their work. "It's only England, someone will get us through." They were relying on reputation rather than self-disciplined action.

Australia got into strong positions, but were not able to keep them © Getty Images

Rotating the players and the arm injury of Andrew Symonds also left the selectors unsure of their first XI at the conclusion. Symonds' absence unsettled the balance and there was no immediate back-up plan for replacing the team's superhero. Two men, Brad Hogg and Shane Watson, were trialled during the most important one-day games of the home season, despite playing once between them in the qualifying phase. The move failed as neither was able to produce significant performances.

The big guns also did not explode, but picking Hogg after he had criss-crossed the country as a net bowler and rushing in Watson following his hamstring dramas were desperate calls. Men lacking match practice were preferred instead of Cameron White and Mitchell Johnson, who had figured throughout the series. Selectors can also be affected by notions of invincibility.

During the tournament the locals talked of 400-plus totals, a perfect summer and John Buchanan moaned the opposition teams were not providing enough challenges. Vincent was right: Australia were too confident in their own ability. The players thought they were too good to lose and were unseated in embarrassing fashion.

Australia's finals aura has been diminished - they had lost only one decider in almost seven years before Friday night - but they can restore it with a slight alteration in their outlook. An English friend mutters "pride comes before a fall" whenever his football team wins a couple of games. It is simple, cute and might be useful for Australia.

I agree totally: the Aussies were overconfident. The CB Series final was a wake-up call, and history shows they generally heed wake-up calls. So if Australia give it their all and stay focussed, they must still be favourites for the World Cup. How big an "IF" that is remains to be seen!

Peter, Signifigance mate? Who won the ODI series before the 2005 Ashes and what was the score. If you need to look it up, my point is proven..... In contrast what was the Ashes series scoreline?

Peter, I have to disagree - the Aussies have been labelled arrogant, egotistical, complacent etc, by media "experts" numerously over the last 10 years. Your perception of Australia's arrogance being it's weakness is ridiculous. Australia are still number 1 in the world, and have been for a long, long time. To suggest that England beat Australia in the ODI finals because Australia are arrogant/complacent is completely disregarding the fact that Australia were outplayed by England for the last week of the tour. One week of poor cricket and Australia are too arrogant for their own good? I don't buy it.
The tri-series, and the Chappell-Hadlee tournament are insignificant in regards to results. What matters is the bigger picture - Australia winning their 3rd world cup in 8 years, and making their 4th final in 11 years.

It's hardly a slump for Australia. Besides, they punished England and New Zealand for the entire summer. England deserve the CB Trophy because they won the finals - simple as that. As an Australian I'm enclined to be proud of the huge effort they put in through the summer (and always), not embarased about losing a couple of matches to very good sides. The world cup has absolutely nothing to do with todays form - a lesson England will probably learn the hard way again.

I agree with the article completely.We are a nation that suffers from "tall poppy syndrome" but it is frustrating to watch so called experts pick sides that are not up to stratch.The reliance of particularly one man "Andrew Symonds" is extraordinary.He brings to the team his own obvious skills but also an air of confidence.The likes of Michael Clarke can go out there and "have a go" knowing full well that Roy is in after him.I disagree with the whole idea of having almost a 16 man squad in the summer season because of the issues that have come about with Stuart Clark in particular.He was the best bowler and man of the series in the test matches and appeared to be going well in the early one dayers and in the blink of an eye lost favour with the selectors to other players that in the wash up, did not perform.Don't even get me started on the selection of Shane Watson in front of Cameron White! I know Watson performed well at the champions trophy,but he was underdone in the cb series and now they expect him to fill the void left by Symonds.A lot of pressure for a bloke that is only just recovered from injury.Why not take a punt with a guy that has some flair and i believe will be a future Australian captain - White.His omission from the world cup squad was an embarrasement.I know you have to have a specialist spinner in the squad but this guy has been in great form.How about choosing guys in form instead of reputation.We have not learnt our lesson from the last home series!I predict that Australia with or without Andrew Symonds will struggle in this world cup and that it will be the selectors fault based on a number of pressurising decisions that have put the heat on guys that aren't doing what they do best.Come on guys pick the best guys not who has performed in the past.Complacency - "I don't even know or care what that word means?"