Sorry England start Ashes inquest

England cricket chiefs have launched a major review of the team's performances in Australia following their crushing 5-0 Ashes defeat.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said the series was a "great disappointment" and "a number of lessons must be learned".

He promised that the review would be "comprehensive and broad ranging".

The ECB said its objective was to help England regain the Ashes on home soil in 2009 and improve one-day results.

Highlights: Fifth Test - Day Four
Interview: England captain Andrew Flintoff
Interview: England coach Duncan Fletcher

Several ECB directors met informally on Thursday to consider implementing a review of Team England.

Following their discussions in Sydney, the venue for the fifth and final Test, they issued a statement detailing their plans.

It read: "The board unanimously supported the establishment of a comprehensive review and will now meet formally to agree the process and composition of the review team."


The ECB want the review "to determine how Team England performances during the period 2003-7 should be improved in order that England regain the Ashes in 2009 and win an ICC Global One Day Event during the period 2007-11".

The review is unlikely lead to a change of coach.

Duncan Fletcher, who has already said he plans to take charge of England at the World Cup in the West Indies, appears to have the backing of his masters.

"This is not the time to fuel speculation about the head coach," John Carr, the ECB's director of England cricket, told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I'm very confident Duncan will be leading the team into the World Cup.

"Duncan has himself said that he always reviews his position at the end of each winter.

"I'm sure the ECB general review that is looking at all ECB structures etc will be looking at all elements of personnel within Team England - every post and every position."

The World Cup gets under way in March, with England placed in Group C alongside New Zealand, Canada and kenya.

Aussies Complete Ashes Whitewash

England were pulverised on the fourth day of the Sydney Test as the Australia juggernaut swept to a 10-wicket win.
Scorecard

The resultant 5-0 whitewash was the first since 1920-21 and was a fitting send-off for Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer in their final Test.

McGrath took two wickets as England were all out for 147 after resuming on 114-5, leaving Australia to score just 46 for victory.

And Langer and Matthew Hayden knocked off the runs with ease in 10.5 overs.


At the start of play, the Barmy Army were at least hoping to salute a few lusty blows from Kevin Pietersen, but he fell to the third ball of the morning without adding to his overnight score of 29.

McGrath produced the kind of delivery that has epitomised his 13-year Test career - just back of a length outside off stump, seaming away - and Pietersen edged to Adam Gilchrist.

England had still not registered a run in the day when Chris Read called Monty Panesar through for a run.

His partner responded a fraction slowly, and Andrew Symonds' bullet-like throw from extra cover knocked out middle stump with Panesar short of his ground.
Finally, there were a couple of boundaries. An edge through a gap in the slip cordons got Sajid Mahmood off the mark and Read middled a cover-drive off Brett Lee.

Time for an England rally? Not a bit of it. As if to scoff at such petulance, Lee had Read caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting and Mahmood was bowled off his pads by McGrath.

Steve Harmison lofted McGrath for four over mid-on as he and James Anderson kept Australia in the outfield a little longer.

Warne almost had Harmison lbw - an appeal went to the third umpire who ruled in the benefit of the batsman.

But the honour of the last wicket went to another of Australia's retirees - McGrath, who ended with six in the match.

Anderson tried a speculative on-drive but gave an easy catch to Michael Hussey at mid-on.
It was the last wicket of the 2006-07 Ashes.

As McGrath and Warne began their farewells, they left the stage to the third great Australian exiting the international stage.

Justin Langer, accompanied by fellow opener and best mate Matthew Hayden, walked out with the Aussies chasing a tiny target.
The only question was whether England could remove either man before the home team could begin to uncork the celebratory liquor.

In a microcosm of the entire series, the tourists' bowlers were unable to trouble Langer and Hayden at all.

A massive six from Hayden off Mahmood left Australia one run from the winning post and the next ball was glided through the covers.

Langer and Hayden removed their helmets and embraced warmly.

Next, the two players shook hands with the opponents they had conquered - Langer had a special word with old Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss.

The other Aussies came onto the field and the celebrations could really begin.

Warne's three children and McGrath's two posed for a photograph with two of Australia's most famous dads and the interviews and presentations started.

For the record, Stuart Clark was named man of the match but narrowly lost out on the man of the series accolade, with his captain Ricky Ponting accepting that prize.