Murray says the timeline for developing more players will easily stretch from three to six years. He will nevertheless hope to play in what look to be losing causes in the future.

He will now concentrate on his own fitness, having his wrist thoroughly checked out. If a long layoff is required, it will affect his participation in the Tokyo and Shanghai events next month.

The 3-2 loss drops Britain to the third level of the worldwide team competition with little hopes of any players rising to the surface to eventually help out the frustrated world number three.