The nightmare Australia dreaded - Brett Lee in serious decline before next year's Ashes tour - has materialised before the national selectors' disbelieving eyes.
On a surface where he used to bowl like the king of the world, Lee was reduced to the beggar's rations of 1-132 in the first Test against South Africa in Perth. Only 10 months after he won the Allan Border Medal for the best player of 2007, Lee's form is in free-fall.
The NSW paceman has had a trying year personally with the much-publicised break-up of his marriage to Liz Kemp and as hard as it is for him to admit it, there seems little doubt this emotional turmoil has played a role in his loss of form.
Shattered Australian captain Ricky Ponting admitted his team was carrying passengers - a veiled reference to the blond paceman.
As the shockwaves from Australia's thumping by South Africa hit home, Ponting refused to guarantee Lee's spot in the team for this week's MCG Boxing Day blockbuster.
Lee was bereft of pace and was flogged in a Perth shocker as his protege Mitchell Johnson produced an incredible 11-159 at the other end.
When asked whether he expected Lee to hold his place this week, Ponting would only guarantee his spot in the extended squad.
Asked to clarify, Ponting repeated that he could only assure Lee a place in the squad, indicating he could be a shock demotion to 12th man.
Australia were contemplating rebuilding their pace attack by bringing swing king Ben Hilfenhaus, NSW left-armer Doug Bollinger or even Queensland all-rounder Ryan Harris in for Boxing Day.
"There is no doubt he is under a bit of pressure," Ponting said of Lee.
"He took one wicket in the game and his pace and swing weren't there.
"We expect him to have some impact, particularly with the new ball, and that wasn't there."
Asked about potential new bowling talent, Ponting said: "Maybe someone like Ben Hilfenhaus who can use the new ball will come into calculations, Bollinger will come into calculations ... maybe Ryan Harris.
"We have to think about the bowlers we've got in the side at the moment and the style of bowlers we've got.
"With the conditions that we are going to confront in Melbourne and Sydney we have to work out whether they are the best guys to win us the next two games and if they are not then we are going to have to make some changes.
"It is a bit of a worry that we weren't good enough to take 20 wickets in this Test.
"To only take four wickets in the fourth innings was very disappointing. Some of the guys in this Test have done some amazing things individually.
"When you have that many guys that have good games and you lose, it shows up that the rest of the guys haven't had much of a contribution in the game at all."
At 32, the age when Merv Hughes and Craig McDermott had finished their careers, it appears Lee's best days may be behind him.
- ROBERT CRADDOCK and BEN DORRIES