With the exception of a brief period between Ambrose and Garner, WI always had 3 of the top 15 or so AT quicks. Plus a bunch of other quality. Not that it matters much in terms of assessing Viv's captaincy due to the amount of time involved, but I think the best collection of 4 bowlers ever assembled was peak Bishop + 3 greats.
AUS didn't have much after McWarne (and Clark) went.
Batting declined for both. WI was still the best after the decline. Still very strong, and not much competition. AUS late Ponting had a ton of competition. They probably had the best home lineup, but not away.
I don't disagree with any of that. WI tho were at times under series threat of losing their unbeaten streak but under Viv they managed to always keep ahead.
I wouldn't fault Ponting for the overall decline in results but his failure to lift them in key moments did lead them to losing to teams that were at their relative level a lot.
Ponting losing to SA in 2008 at home was definitely on him. Frankly they should have won both of the first two tests.
In India, Ponting chose to bowl his spinners rather than seek a chance to draw the series in Nagpur in 2008. In 2010, India managed a last wicket partnership and Ponting let another test out of his hands.
Losing the Ashes in 2009 was also to a rather ordinary English team. They failed to seal the 1st test and lost all momentum.
And while losing the Ashes at home in 2010 was to an outright superior team, losing three home tests by an innings each is unforgivable.
Under Ponting, Aus went from a undisputed no.1 side to a mid-tier team, behind SA, India and England, in a matter of three years.