The chairman of BCCI's selection committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth expressed huge disappointment on the Indian team's dismal performance Down Under, terming it a collective batting failure.

"We are totally devastated. It is quite disappointing in the manner we have played in Australia. Now sitting in Chennai, it is difficult for me to pinpoint a particular reason as to what went wrong. Definitely our batting has failed consistently throughout the series," Srikkanth said on Sunday.

Srikkanth was found wanting when scribes sought an elaborate explanation of causes that led to the team's failure. His answer was an inevitable one.

The former India captain predictably sidestepped the issue of whether seniors like VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid need to be phased out after their poor show in Australia.

"Everybody can give any number of reasons as to why the team has done badly. But won't you guys agree with me that this was the best available team? I don't think that too much of a post-mortem would lead us anywhere," said Srikkanth.

He seemed a touch miffed when he was asked whether the selection committee will also take the blame for such a debacle.