In his latest exclusive diary entry for CricInfo, England's wicketkeeper-batsman reflects on the missed opportunities that have put England backs to the wall in the Ashes series. He also assesses Australia's strengths, and how they compare with other international sides.

Played two, lost two. Well as Australia have played, the disappointing fact is that we haven't come close to playing to our full potential, with the bat, with the ball or in the field. Obviously the four or five dropped catches in Australia's first innings were very costly, and you simply can't afford to let a side of Australia's quality have that many chances to cash in.

They are the better side – we knew that before the series started. But what's disappointed me is not so much the quality of their play as the fact that we've lost the basics, which brought us so much success over the past 12 to 18 months. Our fielding had been good, but we've missed opportunities there in both Tests. We haven't been able to post decent totals, and our bowlers haven't been able to maintain pressure on the Australian batsmen.

Australia are the best side I've played against in my 112 Test matches. They're full of batting and play in an attacking style. They've got three quality pace bowlers, a class leg-spinner and a top class batsman/wicketkeeper. It's possibly the best side that's been around for a very long time, and certainly in recent times.

I got out to two very good balls from Glenn McGrath. One bounced and left me in the first innings, and the other he nipped back from a good length. Basically I was out to two fine deliveries, which you're obviously entitled to be. It was nice to get five catches. I just had a chat with Adam Gilchrist, and we reckoned that with the five-wicket board and the hundred board in the dressing room, perhaps they ought to introduce a five catches board for wicketkeepers!

It's frustrating to lose Graham Thorpe again. He may be pain-free in time for Trent Bridge, but you've got to take the specialist's advice and therefore he's out for another three weeks. We've lost our captain, and now we've only had Thorpey for one Test.

As to Dennis Lillee suggesting it's time to leave me out in favour of someone younger, people are entitled to their own opinions. I've never commented on them, so I don't intend to start now.

For the next Test at Trent Bridge, the selectors have got to sit down and pick what they believe is the best-balanced side, seven batsmen and four bowlers, or six batsmen and five bowlers. Whatever they do, we want to get back to the standard of cricket that we've achieved for most of the past 18 months.

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