Gooch was speaking after England surrendered the Ashes for an eighth consecutive time following another humiliating loss in Perth.

"It is no disgrace to lose to Australia but the worry is that we have been blown away.

"We have been annihilated by Australia and it is a bit embarrassing," Gooch told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Our whole system has been thrown into doubt by the way we have lost.

"Every time Australia beat us it is going to be a new era for English cricket. But there is no magic wand that is going to be waved."

The former opening batsman had mixed fortunes as a player against Australia.

He made his debut against the old enemy at Edgbaston in 1975, making a pair.

He enjoyed the Ashes successes of 1978, 1981 and 1985, but was on the receiving end in 1980, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995, and never beat Australia as captain.

England have recently introduced an Academy, but Gooch believes the problems are more deep rooted.

"We have to target the level of cricket below Test cricket so that players are better prepared and harder and the coaches at England level can hone them," he said.

"We have to look at how we are going to bring through players and create a system that is going to produce better and more resilient players.

"This country will always turn out talented sportsmen. The talent is there but the problem is the way the system moulds those players."