 Hussey and Clark have been at the heart of Australia's revival |
As abject as England's demise was in Perth, it outlined the sheer and utter ruthlessness of one of the greatest Test teams the game will ever see.
Ricky Ponting's Australia bullied, bludgeoned and barracked the England players until their goal was achieved.
"I cannot recall seeing a team so driven and focused," said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew.
From the moment England's players bundled onto an open top bus to bask in post-Ashes glory through London last summer, Australia plotted a path to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
In 14 Tests since then - one of them in the superfluous Super Series - Ponting's team have won 13, drawn one and also lifted the one-day ICC Champions Trophy for good measure.
When something is wrong, Australian selectors have no sympathy for sentiment when it comes to replacing players.
 | 606 VIEW BBC Sport's Pranav Soneji |
Out went Simon Katich and Jason Gillespie, in came Mike Hussey and Stuart Clark, two men whose contributions helped ensure the urn was draped in green and gold once more.
In those 14 Tests post 2005, Hussey has contributed 1,554 runs at an astonishing average of 86.33, while Clark's seven Tests have yielded 37 wickets at an equally impressive 18.62.
One must also acknowledge the contribution of coach John Buchanan.
The cerebral former teacher, fond of ancient Chinese warlord Sun Tzu, has overseen an incredible 25 Test series victories, losing and drawing two, since taking over from Geoff Marsh in 1999.
Those two defeats were by India in 2001 and the 2005 Ashes, widely acknowledged as two of the greatest Test series in history, which goes some way to describing how difficult it really is to beat Australia.
 Buchanan has a record that will prove hard to beat |
Tellingly, both defeats were avenged in the emphatic and ruthless - that word again - manner Australians have made their own.
The tall Queenslander will bid farewell after the World Cup in the West Indies, which makes Mark Taylor's arduous task of finding his successor even more challenging.
The former Australian captain will lead a five-man panel to select the right man for the job.
The candidates are numerous. India coach Greg Chappell, Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody and the highly respected Tim Nielsen, head of Australia's centre of excellence have all been touted.
The successful candidate's main task will be to manage a transition period which will see the departures of a number of senior players - "Dad's Army", as the fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has described them.
Opening batsman Justin Langer has already gone on record to say that he wants to stay following Damien Martyn's decision to bow out before the third Test.
 Jaques could feature in the next Ashes series in 2009 |
His partner and friend Matthew Hayden's second innings 92 at the Waca will probably prolong his place in the side a little longer.
But New South Wales opener Phil Jaques has been knocking on the door for so long it is practically on its hinges, and the selectors cannot ignore him for much longer.
Clark is straight out of the Glenn McGrath school of nagging accuracy, although at 31 he is hardly a Mitchell Johnson or Shaun Tait, two of Australia's outstanding young quicks.
But neither McGrath or Shane Warne have indicated the slightest hint of retiring. Warne has said he wants to play on until the 2009 Ashes in England.
Whatever happens in the interim, and however patriotic an England supporter you might be, now is the time to pay tribute to one of the finest teams in history - in any sport.
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