Australia have spent the last two generations racking up all-conquering statistics beyond the dreams of other countries.

Yet after their series defeat in India, the numbers are suddenly starting to stack up against them.

Australia's 172-run failure in Nagpur handed India a 2-0 victory and meant a first Test series defeat for Ricky Ponting's team since the 2005 Ashes in England.

It is also the first time any Australia team has lost a rubber by more than one match since one came unstuck against West Indies in 1988/89.

That was the tailend of a bygone era in which the sons of the Caribbean were the undisputed kings of cricket.

The Windies' once unquestioned superiority has passed hazily into the realms of distant legend, and there will be many tempted today to identify a similar sea change in Australian fortunes.

Following a raft of high-profile retirements, the unavoidable conclusion is that Australia are no longer anywhere near the force which two winters ago buried England in a 5-0 whitewash down under to exact a grim revenge for that unexpected setback of 2005.

Ponting has long spoken of success in India as Australia's holy grail, and it is an achievement which in the modern era has eluded all but the 2004/05 tourists.

There is, of course, one still greater prize on any Aussie's wish-list - and there may be some consolation in the fact that the 2004/05 success on the sub-Continent prefaced that defeat in England, whereas a 2-1 setback in India in 2000/01 for Steve Waugh and Co was followed by a 4-1 Ashes romp.

There is, then, at least one kind reading of statistics which may soothe Australia's concerns over next summer. The facts, however, offer considerably less encouragement for the Baggy Greens.

The precedent of 2005 and 2006/7 suggests the shock of defeat could yet make Australia tougher opponents in the assignments which lie ahead, this winter against South Africa and next summer in England.

On the other hand, two statements of the obvious demonstrate how difficult it will be.

However strong the motivation, however much any group wants to succeed, the key is the capabilities - collective and individual - of the personnel.

Since that landslide win against England two winters ago, they are minus three undisputed and irreplaceable all-time greats - thanks to the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.

Ponting still has Brett Lee at his disposal, and Mitchell Johnson's left-arm swing and pace should not be under-estimated. But when it comes to taking 20 wickets over five days, the one-two of McGrath's metronomic seam and Warne's irresistible spin and mind games are as good as it has ever got - right up there with the frightening West Indies pace batteries of the 1970s and 80s.

Off-spinner Jason Krejza's 12 wickets on debut in Nagpur are likely to prove a red herring when it comes to the chances of bowling teams out cheaply.

Ponting's batting resources are less obviously depleted - although the continued effectiveness of 37-year-old opener Matthew Hayden is surely a worry, and a wicketkeeper who can score as quickly and heavily as Gilchrist is a one-off even in this era.

There is no reason to think Ponting, four years Hayden's junior, will not be capable of world-class form for a while yet; of the team in India, Michaels Clarke and Hussey - particularly the latter - are cornerstones in the middle order, and all-rounder Shane Watson adds handy and potentially game-breaking balance.

Cameron White is not a Test match bowler but may yet prove a Test batsman.

Those are the components with which Ponting must work, although he must be hoping to have the wayward Andrew Symonds' multi-faceted ability back in harness for the challenges ahead.

Even allowing for a focused Symonds, the returns of Stuart Clark and Shaun Tait, or perhaps the emergence of Ryan Harris, Ponting's once utterly dominant Australia are coming back to the pack.

They are probably still favourites to beat South Africa home and away - but after India 2008/09, England in 2009 may prove another step too far.