What's always interested me is that said Australian side deteriorated, bit-by-bit.
First there was the famous triple-retirement of Greg Chappell, Marsh and Lillee. Yallop's career basically ended (at 31) there, too, though he didn't take the rebel-tour route for another year and played 1 further Test.
Then Hughes (who had not even turned 31) took the rebel-tour route, along with Hogg and Alderman (28 at the time, the only one who would return). Lawson (27 in 1985\86) virtually disappeared for 4 years too, I know not why (have always presumed he was injured a lot). Finally, Wessels (at 28) went the same way.
What amazes me is that, in amongst the Steve Smiths, Woods, Hilditchs, Ritchies, Hookeses, Velettas, Gilberts, Dodemaides, O'Donnells, Brights, Bennetts, Hogans, Hollands, Sleeps, Peter Taylors, Mays, Hohnses, Phillipses, Rixons, Zoehrers and Dyers who were mostly mediocre full-stop, there were as many as there were who started dreadfully and were part of the mediocrity yet emerged the other side and became superb cricketers later on: the Boons, McDermotts, Merv Hugheses, Reids, Stephen Waughs, and late on the Healys and Taylors.
TBF, Border may of times have been a lone fighter but it's surprising how well
Geoff Marsh served his country in the time.
Dean Jones later on too.
Either way, it's hard to say that any one side was worst, I agree.