Australia coach Mickey Arthur has warned his players they must raise their game if they want to become the top-ranked team in Test cricket.
Preparations for the third Test against India, which begins on Thursday, have been overshadowed by the turmoil within the team which has dominated the headlines in recent days.
Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were told earlier this week they would not be considered for the match after the team management opted to punish them for failing to make a presentation on how the side could improve following the heavy defeat in the second Test.
Vice-captain Watson has since flown home to be with his pregnant wife, hinting he is now considering his future with the national team.
Australia skipper Michael Clarke suggested the sanction was imposed for more than one breach of discipline, and Arthur has also shed a little more light on what he perceives to be the problems within his squad.
In his blog on cricket.com.au, Arthur said: "Being late for a meeting, high skinfolds, wearing the wrong attire, back-chat or giving attitude are just some examples of these behavioural issues that have been addressed discretely but continue to happen.
"If we're deadly serious about getting back to number one in the world, all players need to raise the bar and lift their game.
"If not, we must be content at being number three or four or five in world cricket because we won't get any better. The players won't learn and we'll continue a vicious cycle.
"Let's be absolutely clear. The decision to suspend Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja for not adhering to a team request is the defining moment, but it has been a culmination of lots of small minor indiscretions that have built up to now."
Former South Africa mentor Arthur also admitted the past two days had been the toughest of his 11-year coaching career.
"The media reaction to this decision was like none I've seen in my coaching career and has certainly divided opinion," he said.
"It is a strong message to everyone in Australian cricket that if you want to play for the Australian cricket team, then we demand excellence. Corner-cutting, taking short-cuts or arriving with a bad attitude will no longer be tolerated.
"We want to be the Spanish football team, Manchester United or McLaren of world cricket."
Meanwhile, Clarke remains hopeful Watson will return for the fourth Test in Delhi.
Watson was originally meant to leave the touring party after the third Test, as wife Lee Furlong is expecting their first child.
But with the birth brought forward, Watson opted to return home to Australia, despite his exit leading to much speculation about his future in the team.
Clarke believes there is a chance Watson may be available for the fourth Test if the child arrives early and declared the 31-year-old remained the team's vice-captain.
"I'll be in contact with Cricket Australia ... but looking at what's happened through the Australian summer, one-day cricket, we haven't appointed another vice captain," said Clarke on the Cricket Australia website.
"Shane Watson's still the vice captain for this tour and at this stage he's gone home for the birth of his first child and hopefully we get him back for the fourth Test."
There has been growing speculation in recent months that Watson and Clarke do not see eye to eye.
However, the captain said he was certain this week's events were something his team-mate would learn from and maintained he still had a future with Australia.
"He definitely can (remain as vice-captain)," Clarke told News Limited.
" There have been times throughout my career where I know I have let myself and the team down and you learn from that.
"'Watto' knows how important he is to this group. He knows he is a senior player in this group and both of us on this tour have learned a lot and spent a fair bit of time together, which has been good for me as captain and also 'Watto', I'm hoping, as vice-captain."
