Perform or Quit to Give Way to New Players - - Shane Warne Demanded From Senior Players

Tired of talk about rebuilding and transitional phases, the spin great insisted that being the No. 4-ranked Test nation is not good enough.

Australia has lost three of its past five Test series - including the Ashes - and Warne insists it is time that Ricky Ponting's men performed or perished.

"You have to say the Australian side has been in a transition phase but when does that stop?" Warne said yesterday.

"The side has been together probably for 18 months, so (has) played three or four Test series, clocking up nearly 20 Tests.

"There comes a time when we say `we've had enough time and we know enough about ourselves. We've played enough Test cricket, it's time to start performing'.

"I wouldn't say Australia is the fourth best side in the world but the way the side has played in recent times, you are going to have to be patient.

"But there comes a time when you say `OK, are these guys going to see us through in the long-term or is there an opportunity to get some new blood in the side?' "

There are three 34-year-old's in Australia's top order - Mike Hussey, Ponting and Simon Katich - and Warne worries about a mass exodus like after the 2006-7 Ashes series.

At the end of that contest, Warne hung up his boots along with Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer while Damien Martyn retired after the second Test.

Hussey is under huge pressure to perform against the West Indies as selectors are keen to reinstate opener Phillip Hughes and shuffle Shane Watson down the order.

Warne has identified young talents such as leg-spinner Steven Smith and fellow New South Wales allrounder Moises Henriques and says they should be given a go sooner rather than later.

"If we're going to stay a transition side and stay patient with them, we need these (young) guys to get the opportunity to play some Test cricket," Warne said.

"We need to identify two or three young guys to come in and say these guys have got it?

"Is that Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, is it Phillip Hughes?

"Pick them at the right time. We don't want to lose four or five of us (veterans) again."

Ponting said there would be no excuses if Australia did not defeat the West Indies and Pakistan this summer.

"I don't think I'm one for throwing up excuses," he said yesterday. "We've had our ups and downs and sometimes we haven't been able to cope.

"When those critical moments come up (this summer) we can be better than we were during the Ashes."