By Ben Kunicki BBC Sport Online

In the last few years two things have happened in Australian cricket.

Their dominance of the sport has grown ever stronger, but so too has their reliance on a core of experienced players.

Back in 1999 Steve Waugh inherited Mark Taylor's mantle as captain but a glance down the names of those respective sides reveals little has changed.

That has meant that the Australians have been able to create a team spirit and relentless momentum that is hard to match.

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However, the one aspect of that teamsheet that gives hope to opposition sides is the column referring to the date of birth of each player.

In Steve Waugh's side that played the last two Tests against Pakistan in Sharjah, only Ricky Ponting (28) and Brett Lee (25) are under 30.

Of that team, Mark Waugh (37), has been deemed surplus to requirements, but the man to replace him, Darren Lehmann, is also the wrong side of 30.

Meanwhile, the Australia A side that swept their South African counterparts aside during September featured five players over 30, seven between 26 and 30 and only two who were 25 or under.

One Waugh down, and one to go

For most of the late 1970s and early 1980s the West Indies dominated world cricket, however, the edifice finally started to crumble because the great players gradually retired.

With the replacements not up to the standard of what had gone before, the West Indies began to decline.

Currently Australia could have a situation where they have to replace all but one of their top six within three years.

Although batsmen such as Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn may want to make the most of their restarted careers, time waits for no man.

The bonus for Australia is that they potentially are not short of candidates to replace them but the negative is that they are not much younger themselves.

The strength and continuity of Australian cricket has meant that the likes of Lehmann, Greg Blewett and Michael Bevan, have largely been kept in the shadows.

But the next generation of players, including Mike Hussey and Simon Katich, have been pushed even further back down the order.

McGrath has been lucky with injuries in his career

Among the bowlers, there are less apparent heirs, however.

The A team's attack is currently led by Brad Williams, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken.

Glenn McGrath's indefatigability has never seemed more vital, but with the great man facing his 33rd birthday, cricketing mortality is beckoning.

First reserve is Andy Bichel, a few months younger than McGrath, and with none of Williams, Clark and Bracken exactly household names, there could be a worry there.

Recognising this cycle the Australian selectors have finally sought to introduce youth with Shane Watson, Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clarke all being introduced to national squads.

There seems little chance of readily reproducing the entire generation that has dominated Test cricket for the last five years.

But when, in time, the selectorial hand is forced, they will be making some really crucial decisions.

The Australian public will expect a new generation of superstars to be born, while non-Australians will hope for a lean period.