Fair enough if the leadership group that put the plan together had acted it out themselves, instead they got a lad who was hardly going to say no having played so few tests to do it. Bancroft who hasn't really been involved since either, and his first class record would suggest there's more to that. Having watched The Test documentary series as well, I found myself actually become quite fond of the set up, including Smith and Warner, but I don't think it was just the English that took issue with it either.
Also to add after you've credited Cricket Australia, I think it was fairly common knowledge they were probably happy for those three to take the brunt to try and divert from the awful culture within the organisation.