A frustrated Nasser Hussain admitted that England's performance at Perth had been "embarrassingly poor". England slumped to an innings defeat inside three days. "We're just very disappointed, we've let everybody down," said Hussain. "We're just not performing; we're beaten, we're battered, we're bruised and it's not good enough. We have been carrying a lot of injuries but we were just not good enough. We need to regroup, there are some new lads coming out for the one-dayers.

"Hopefully for the one-dayers we will have 11, 12 or 13 people not scarred from the Test series and hopefully we will up our game."

But he dismissed suggestions that he might be tempted to resign the captaincy. "I am not going to walk away from this England team in a bruised and battered state. I will not take that option. I will not give the job to some young fellow and and concentrate on my batting. That would be an easy option."

Hussain was quick to praise the Australia side. "It's no excuse but you have to look at the way they are bowling - they're playing out of their skins. There are no free runs out there but that is what playing Test cricket is all about.

"We've lost the Ashes now so all we can do is look at them and learn from the last two games."

Asked about his reaction to being given out caught behind by umpire Rudi Koertzen - a furious Hussain was seen kicking equipment inside the England dressing room - he was unrepentant. "I believe that a dressing room is a sacred place and after the couple of months I've had I think I'm entitled to kick a few cricket coffins."

Steve Waugh, whose 32nd win as captain equaled Allan Border's record, said that the match was as good as over once England had been bowled out on the first day. "The wicket was excellent and England probably threw it away on day one when they were bowled out for 180-odd," Waugh reflected. "But I thought our cricket all-round was pretty good this game.

"I've been a part of some great sides and this one is certainly up there."

As the reality of another crushing Ashes defeat begun to sink in, David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, said that it was time to go back to drawing board while warning that the solution was not bringing in young players at any cost.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Graveney said that England had to start looking to the future and plan at least two years ahead. "That should be our plan, but we've got to play our best team. If you look at Australia's current XI and at the 25 central contract players there are maybe three, four who are under 30. People saying we should pick younger players is just a folly - they've got to be good players.

"I will be speaking to Duncan [Fletcher] and Nasser to make our future plans so that work starts now."

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