“Four of the top six are in particularly worrying form, with Khawaja and Smith having gone 11 Tests without a century, Marsh 10 and Marnus Labuschagne nine,” added Matthews.

“Nathan McSweeney managed only 10 runs in two innings on Test debut and there are likely to be questions about whether the Queenslander, who has never opened in first-class cricket, was the right option at the top of the order.”

Wisden’s Sarah Waris, meanwhile, wrote that the “manner” of Smith and Labuschagne’s dismissals “cast doubts over the mental state they are in and their place in the XI”.

“Labuschagne struggled for his 52-ball two in the first innings and was dismissed lbw without offering a shot in the second,” she wrote.

“Smith, on the other hand, had a big trigger movement in the first innings and was trapped lbw first ball. In the second, he was unable to keep off a back-of-a-length delivery that angled into the off stump before straightening.

“Skipper Pat Cummins downplayed the lack of contribution but with Usman Khawaja not in the greatest form either, averaging 30.60 in the last 12 months, the engine room of Australia’s batting at home seems to be well and truly shot.”

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As if that isn’t enough of a problem, Vaughan flagged an even bigger concern for Australia surrounding the long-term options to replace them.

“There has been a common trend going back to the Ashes that when this team comes up against quality bowling, they have a knack of losing quick wickets,” Vaughan wrote.

“Their averages over a long period of time are very poor. It’s the first match of a series, but it’s not a one-off.

“But we saw with their nationwide search for someone, anyone to open the batting that the paddock is pretty bare for the first time in a long time.

“The Kookaburra ball is a bit different these days and the pitches are spicier, but from what I have seen the batting standards are a big concern. Great sporting teams have great players, but they also have greater players underneath pushing to make sure standards are high.

“They have young players forcing their way in and bringing energy. Look at India, where Jaiswal is surely inspiring Kohli.

“I am not seeing that with Australia. Years ago, there’d be huge hundreds being made in state cricket, but not any more. There’s also a lack of alignment a bit like we have with English cricket.

“There was no Shield game just before this one for the batsmen to tune up. I bet Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne would love a hit in the Shield in the long break before Adelaide but again there is no game.”

Of course, as much as the spotlight is firmly on Australia’s shortcomings after the opening Test, there is also plenty to be said about just how dominant India was, led by stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah and left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Bumrah was praised for leading from the front, with former batsman VVS Laxman writing on X that the skipper steered India to “one of the most dominant overseas wins”.

Jaiswal smashed 161 while Virat Kohli struck form with an unbeaten 100 in India’s second innings of 487-6 declared.

However, Vaughan wrote that he was “staggered” that Australia didn’t “pepper” Jaiswal, writing that it “speaks to one of the many issues they have right now”.

“I get why, for 30 runs, you would try to snick him off. But then when that doesn’t work, with the pitch flat, why not aim at his right shoulder for 40 minutes and see how he copes with big boundaries?” he added.

“They lacked the normal aggression in Australia’s cricket. Clearly at times their ‘mongrel’ nature has gone too far, but they really lacked it here.”

Vaughan also added to question marks over the unity of the playing squad after Josh Hazlewood answered a press conference question by saying “you probably have to ask one of the batters that”.

“I was shocked when Hazlewood basically wrote the game off on the third evening and divided the team into batsmen and bowlers,” Vaughan wrote.

“I understand how that happens but I’ve never heard an Australian do it. It makes you wonder about togetherness.”

It is just another question hanging over the Australian playing group and one they won’t be able to answer until next week, with the second Test in Adelaide starting on December 6.