Alastair Cook has admitted that England simply were not good enough to retain The Ashes in Australia following the conclusion of the third Test.
Australia dominated the first and second Tests before clinching victory by 150 runs in the third meeting in Perth to end a run of three-straight defeats when competing for the urn.
"It's a tough dressing room to be in at the moment," Cook told TMS. "We haven't been good enough and Australia have outplayed us. In sport you go out there and put yourself on the line.
"We have been found out, we haven't been good enough - we have been outskilled in all aspects. Our preparation has been fine throughout, that's not let us down.
"Our skills and a lack of people in form has cost us. They have just outplayed us and made their advantage count. Whenever they needed a partnership they got one. When we got one going, we gave a wicket away."
The little urn had belonged to England since August 2009.
