In a few hours time England's grip on the Ashes could well come to an end.

Quite simply we have not been anywhere near good enough in Australia and the Aussies deserve everything that has come their way so far.

They lead 2-0 after tonking England in both Brisbane and Adelaide and they are so far ahead in the third Test in Perth that we maywrap up.

What's gone wrong? We'll I am sure the England back room set-up will have someone who can front up with stats or reasons (excuses) for the lamentable showing. We have become rather good at that game.

Maybe we need to go back to basics, we need players whose attitude is not controlled by their ego.

We need players who want to be on the field...and we most of all need to chuck out the famed 82-page manual which tells players what to eat and the like and get back to the core of cricket.

After all, the Aussies have managed it.

* Almost as painful as watching the Ashes was catching Sunday's annual Sports Personality of the Year show.

I always preferred it when it was Sports Review of the Year.

And I always preferred it when the lead presenter was not an ex-footballer who thinks he is the star.