In the end it was an inevitable end to a disappointing Ashes campaign. Although there are still two tests to go, in Melbourne and Sydney, the famous urn is safely and deservedly back in Australian hands. There were glimpses at the 'WACA' this morning of an English fight back, with Ben Stokes showing what a talent he could be for the future, by scoring his maiden test hundred in only his second test match, but that apart, it was an all too familiar tale.

Let's not beat around the bush here, because apart from the first session on day one in Brisbane, England have been completely out played in all departments. This in itself must be alarming to all those within the England camp; but what must be even more worrying for them, is the manner in which Australia have inflicted those defeats.

As I sat in the stands at the Adelaide oval prior to play commencing on the second morning of the second test, I was thinking that a couple of early Australian wickets and England would be right back in the test match, and the series. What unfolded in that first hour however was a complete mystery to me and many other English supporters. There was an uncanny silence out on the field, and the lack purpose from the players, combined with the complete absence of any positive body language was concerning. This wasn't the English side of the past decade or so.

A side that had become adept at turning round difficult positions in games by sheer force of character to pull off unlikely victories; something was wrong there, and on the evidence of four and a half days in Perth, it still is.

Now I don't pretend to know what that, "something" may be, but the normal press interviews by the players churning out cliches such as, "we will continue to work harder", and "we will have to take the positives out of this match", have a pretty hollow ring to them. Alastair Cook, the England captain, had the look of a haunted man during his post match interview and even though he got an absolute snorter first ball from Ryan Harris in the second innings, I fear that It isn't just the memory of that incident which will give him sleepless nights in the next forty eight hours or so.

Is it perhaps time for the England selectors to make some difficult decisions? Is it time for them to take a serious look at the over all impact that the enigma that is Kevin Pieterson is having on the team? Why is the experience of over a hundred test matches continuously wasted on the boundary? Does he not want to get involved with the team where it matters? Why is he not stationed in a position on the field where he can pass on his experience? or is he simply not wanted in there? How often does his special talent fall short of expectations, when another attempt to clear 'long on' for six ends up in the hands of another gleeful fielder.

His wicket is prized above all others in this English batting line up, and it must be a source of continuous frustration to all concerned, when it is given up all too cheaply, and all too often. The performances of Matt Prior and Jimmy Anderson must also be a source of concern to the selectors; but as the old adage goes "form is temporary, class is permanent" they will both undoubtably be back to their best soon. Where there is a question mark however, is how are England going to come back from this position; or will the scars of a 3-0, or worse - Ashes defeat be difficult for them to overcome.

Let's finish on a word or two of high praise for the way Australia have played in the first three tests; they have been simply irresistible. In my view Darren Lehman must take enormous credit for this. Yes Australia pushed the envelope a little at times with the well documented aggression and sledging, but in order to change the mindset of a team unit and indeed in this case of a nation, you sometimes have to take things too far in order to make people stand up and recognise the changes you are trying to make, Lehman has done this incredibly successfully and incredibly quickly.

The Australian public now have a team of heroes again, a team who play in the time honoured Aussie way; but more importantly, as a collective, they have finally accepted Michael Clarke as their leader. And why wouldn't they?