Australia's worst fears were confirmed last night when the country's greatest one-day team of all time was announced at a World Cup farewell in Sydney.
When the plane leaves for the Caribbean today one of the best bowlers in the history of the short form of the game, Brett Lee, will be waving his team-mates goodbye from the departure lounge with his ankle bandaged.
And, while the man voted Australia's best all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, will get on the plane, the kindly staff best not invite him anywhere for a good time as his shoulder is still quite sore to touch.
World Cup optimists will note three of the best XI will be fit and comfortable in their seats, which is an indication of how good the current outfit is.
Of the current Australia squad Lee, Symonds, Ricky Ponting (vc), Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath were voted by their peers as good enough to take their places in the best Australian ODI XI of all time.
Lee is out of the squad with an ankle injury and Symonds is carrying a severe biceps problem, which has selectors and team-mates desperately hoping he can play some role.
The other six are Mark Waugh, who would open with Gilchrist, Dean Jones, who is nominated to come in second drop, Stephen Waugh, Michael Bevan, Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee.
Greg Chappell, who will be at the World Cup as India's coach, is 12th man.
Steve Waugh, who took the team to victory in 1999, was chosen as captain with Ponting, who led the 2003 outfit, as vice-captain.
Allan Border, whose role in rebuilding the Australia side and captaining the team to the 1987 World Cup win made him a national hero, could not be shoe-horned in. The side was voted on by all former Australian one-day players.
For Lee to be included ahead of short-list bowlers of the calibre of Terry Alderman, Simon Davis, Jason Gillespie, Gary Gilmour, Tom Moody, Simon O'Donnell, Paul Reiffel and Bruce Reid indicates just how much the quick has come on in the game and just how much he will be missed by the side.
Lee's injured ankle will keep him out for at least two months and he has been replaced by the reliable Stuart Clark. Only the inexperienced Shaun Tait is capable of delivering the brimstone Lee brings to a one-day match.
There have been 163 players who have represented Australia in one-day matches and 120 of them gathered for the function in Sydney last night, which saw a special tribute to Border's 1987 outfit.
- PETER LALOR