"Fair play to Australia, they've outplayed us in all three games and we've got to be better."
Monday 18 December 2017 11:57, UK
Joe Root admitted Australia have "outplayed" his side in all three Tests after England surrendered the Ashes with an innings defeat in Perth.
After a combination of rain and damp patches on the pitch delayed the start of day five, Australia regained the urn late in an extended afternoon session when Pat Cummins had Chris Woakes caught behind to give the hosts an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two Tests to play.
Root, in his first Ashes series as captain, insisted that his side must improve as they look to avoid a repeat of the 5-0 whitewashes of 2006/07 and 2013/14.
"It is very difficult to take," he said. "Fair play to Australia, they've outplayed us in all three games and we've got to be better. I'm bitterly disappointed.
"It wasn't for the lack of effort. Throughout the three games we've played some good cricket but not for long enough periods of time. Australia have really grasped those crucial moments and fair play to them.
"That can be the difference sometimes. We went through every plan - different fields, bowling straight, hanging it wide, a bit of bumper warfare every now and again. It felt like we didn't leave anything to chance.
"I don't think these three games are a fair reflection of how we've played and what we're capable of. I think we need to do ourselves and the supporters back home justice.
"I am sure the next day or so will be pretty tough, but we have got a bit of time now to get right for Melbourne and make sure our minds are fully on putting in a really strong performance, and showing the character we have."
Stuart Broad and Alastair Cook have struggled during the Ashes series - Broad averaging 61.80 with the ball and and Cook 13.83 with the bat - but Root is confident that they can still be key figures moving forward.
"They've got huge amounts of experience and they do offer a lot to the group and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves," he said.
"They've been in situations where things haven't gone for them before and that's why they've played so many games. [There's] no reason they can't do that again. It's important we don't panic and make hasty decisions.
"[Cook's] done it so many times before and he's a very stubborn guy who likes proving people wrong .The amount of extra work he's putting in behind the scenes tells me he's desperate to keep going."
"Things feel like they just haven't ran for me out in the middle. I feel pretty good in the way I have prepared and sometimes you just have to keep battling through those tough periods. Probably the biggest thing that has been to my detriment is trying too hard - I've been desperate to win this series."
Lower-order batting collapses have been an issue for England throughout the series and it proved costly at the WACA as the tourists crumbled from 368-4 to 403 all out in their first innings at the WACA.
However, while acknowledging the problem, Root chose to focus on the partnership between Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow that had got England into such a strong position to begin with.
"That [collapse] was not ideal at all but if we're being brutally honest, that partnership and the way that those two played to get us into that position was outstanding," he said.
"Those two lads should be really proud of that effort but the position we were in to start with at 100-4, that's not good enough. We've got to learn from it, make sure we're better but there are some good things to have come from this week.
"I think those guys putting in big performances under pressure was outstanding and I think the way James Vince played in that second innings was proper batting.
"It looked like the only way they were going to get him out was a delivery like [Mitchell Starc's on day four] so he played exceptionally well and I'm sure he'll take confidence from it."
