Has following England ever been so depressing?

This debate is now closed.

Australia's latest triumph has left England facing an Ashes whitewash, and led to calls for Nasser Hussain to resign.

The selectors' decision to pick injured players has backfired, and those who are fit are woefully lacking in confidence and form.

Losing to Australia is nothing new, but even the 'Barmy Army' may be feeling low after two successive innings defeats.

Have England's displays caused you to despair? Wherever you are in the world, tell us how you've coped with watching them fail.

The words to the football song 'Three Lions' is quite apt for us, particularly the "But I know they can play" bit. I have not given up hope, and tell my work mates that England will go on to clinch a thrilling 3-2 ashes win. I have in fact just bought my tickets for the 4th day at Sydney!

I remember the England football team in 1992 when we had Graham Taylor; I was glad in a way not to qualify for the World Cup as it caused a shake up at all levels. Maybe that is the silver lining for this particular cloud?
Ed, Australia (Pom)

England fans should cheer up - now Mike Atherton's gone at least the agony is over quickly!
Steve Goodbourn, United Kingdom

English sporting fans, as exemplified by the Barmy Army, display the ingrained tribalism in English sport whereby you have to hate every suburb, town, city or country you are playing against.

That tribalism may produce the songs and chants you think are vital to sporting atmosphere but the other by-products are the barbed-wire fences, heavy police presence and ever present spectre of hooliganism. I'll take the quieter Australian sporting crowds where people turn up to watch the game, or in the case of cricket have a social day out, where you can sit amongst opposition supporters and feel safe.

The day Australian sports fans start behaving like the English (English rugby fans excluded) is the day I stop attending sports.
Steve, Australia

England are not that bad! They are actually the last side to win a test in Australia. At least England have not been bowled out for under 60 twice in a match like Pakistan were a few months ago.
Peter Reynolds, Australia

I feel I have to clear up something here. If you go to the biggest sporting events in Australia (Aussie Rules and Rugby League) it is usually quiet because people are watching the game, not singing!
Stephen Rutkowski, Australia

Having experienced the depths of the mid-80's that Australian cricket plummeted to, I urge English supporters to be realistic - this building and overhaul will take time. But it will happen, and the players need your belief and encouragement.
Derek, Australia

Instead of Michael Vaughan's innings being trumpeted as a brilliant shining light on an otherwise dismal tour, the English should be marking it for what it was: A man doing the job he was paid to do.

A good innings certainly, but rather than being the exception to the rule, it's what every cricketer, regardless of the country they represent, should do when playing sport at this level.

That's the essential difference between the Australians and the English. The Aussies just get on with the job at hand and do what they're expected to do irrespective of the circumstances they find themselves in. England are unquestionably outclassed in this contest but for God's sake, show some self respect.
Michael, Australia

Brian (below), well said mate, I know exactly what you are on about! I lived in OZ for eight years and went to some Brisbane Bronco matches. In amongst 35,000 people there was no atmosphere at all. You get more singing and chanting at my local football ground, Hayes FC.

Go the Barmy Army, we all love ya back here. I can't wait until Upton Park on Feb 12th, then the Aussies will come accross some of our best chants!
Simon, England

I was at the oval in 1999 when we lost to NZ and dropped to the bottom of the world rankings. I remember thinking things couldn't get any worse. And I was right. Since then, England have got to a position of competing for second place in the world.

This has been done against sides with more talented players and the future IS bright. In reply to Sanj, the series in England was even but there is little doubt that had it not been for the weather, England would have won in India 2-1.
Priyesh Jani, London, UK

Waking up early every morning to listen to England's inevitable demise is starting to feel like Bill Murray and that Cher song in Groundhog Day.

I am annoyed that we took so many invalids Down Under, but am less upset with how the players who are in one piece are doing. Considering what they are up against (world-class players and world-class psychologists), I think they are doing alright.

What do people expect when we send a team with such a long tail against the best attack for many years. If only we could string together the good days (we've had two so far) it might be a bit more of a competition.

I am getting a bit tired with the usually Aussie spoiling though. What has Nasser's captaincy got to do with Merv Hughes (nice tash!)? And as for Langer questioning Vaughan for not walking, I think Bichel's claim of a bump-ball catch should justify why he shouldn't have walked.

With a dose of wishful thinking and some mind-altering substances, I can imagine we may scrape a miraculous win from somewhere to avoid the white-wash, and reinforce what we already know; this Aussie side are the new "invincibles".

We shouldn't take it too badly, though, the rest of the world are still lagging behind too, so at least we're in good company.
Tom, UK

I'm actually feeling sorry for the Poms, though I must say they really are looking absolutely pathetic. I'm starting to think I could get Sanjip and a few of the lads, after an afternoon in the pub, to put together a better effort than England can muster.

Some serious work needs to be done when they get back to England (not a moment too soon for some of them I'd imagine).
James Wilkinson, Pakistan/England

There is no shock in England being beaten by the Aussies, they are a far superior team. The only ones who should be depressed are the Australians if they don't win 5-0.
Grant, Scotland

Australia is not the best ever. Not by defeating a lame and wounded England in two Ashes series, or a second-string Pakistan team playing its home matches away from home, or an over-rated South African team weakened by the absence of a match-winning bowler, Mr Donald, and previous to that winning against the weakest West Indian team that we have ever seen.

Certainly, wins like this don't qualify one for the label "greatest ever". Setting a new record for consecutive wins against mostly weak opposition at home, and being beaten as soon as one set foot on the sub-continent says a great deal about the false label "best ever".

During the eighties we did it all, against better opposition in more difficult terrain. Example being: dust bowl wickets - not one Harbajan, but four of the all-time great spinners, not leaving out patriotic home umpires, free of instant TV replays. By the way, we also 'black-washed' England twice.
Steve Latarie Roger, Barbados, West Indies

Emma (below) is very wrong about the barmy army. Not only do they bring great atmosphere (something sadly lacking at most Australian sporting venues) and humour to the test grounds, they also loyally follow a losing team in large numbers.

Ironically, it is usually Australian supporters who are ejected from the grounds for drunkenness etc, while the barmy army are renowned for their good-humoured approach. They have been praised by the Brisbane police recently and by pub owners around the grounds.

It isn't our fault if the locals aren't capable of coming up with anything more imaginative than "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi". The songs and the large turnouts will continue (an estimated 8000 in Sydney), no matter how many games we lose.

The chip-on-shoulder mentality of many newspaper journalists is thankfully not representative of the Aussie population as a whole.

We know Australia is a great country, which is why so many English people live here. However, think about how all the cheap shots in the media make us feel at times. It isn't necessary and paints a poor picture of the Australian people.

We know you love to beat us, but please remember we don't take the rivalry quite as seriously as you do. Cricket above all is a day out in the sun - the result really isn't that important and the carefree attitude of the barmy army reflects this.

Sure, it is disappointing to lose, but this Australian team is a superb outfit. Losing to them is no disgrace and we shouldn't let the media blow it out of proportion. Our day will come.
Brian, English in Australia

Gordon, (below), I certainly don't remember England outplaying India. India won one of the series 1-0, and, once they'd settled in, more than held their own at The Oval, whilst winning at Headingley.

If you call that success, you probably believe Hussain made a good decision to field first at Brisbane and that 2-0 down after two Tests is quite a good position to be in, really.

It could be worse however, England could have called up Paul Collingwood. D'oh!
Sanj, UK

OK, things are looking really bad at the moment but what about all the high points not that long ago. We're playing with a squad full of injuries against the best cricketing side in the world, in their own backyard as well.

To me, Nasser Hussain has been an inspiration to the England Cricket team in the last few years and I feel it would be a shame for him to retire after some bad results which he wasn't entirely to be blamed for. Remember, you should support England through thick and thin.
Ben, England

Hang in there folks. Don't lose hope. We Americans always like the underdogs. England will pull out one Ashes win...bank on it!
John, USA

At least the rugby team is doing well.
Ed, UK

To all those people who are criticising our cricket team for losing in Australia: get out a road atlas and find the way to Old Trafford. There you will find 67,000 other people who refuse to support a team that loses.

Or better still, try getting behind our injury-ravaged team that is trying its best for this country.
Kevin Critchlow, England

After England's shocking performance in Adelaide I am feeling disappointed and let down. I usually manage to remain optimistic about England's chances in a series, but after this I am starting to doubt England's selection procedures and fitness advice.

I can't help but wonder, who on earth gave England medical advice before the tour began? We cannot blame the injury problems England have on the overall performance of a team. I feel very pessimistic about England's chances now. Why don't they just get the next flight home and save some money?
Vicki Causer, England

It's funny how so many have poor memories. The Aussies are streaks ahead of the rest of the world at present, why should we start getting the knives out. Yes, there have been times when we have been outclassed, but so have every other team in world cricket.

Australia have beaten Pakistan and South Africa (twice) 3-0 in the last twelve months. Believe me, we are competing well compared to these guys.

I agree that we should just enjoy the quality of play. I know I will be when I am at the Boxing Day Test match with my Aussie wife.
Brian, England

It is only a game.
Dieter W. Hofflin, Australia

It is gutting to be honest, but what really hurts is hearing the latest addition to the list of wounded. England would probably come off worst in Australia even with their first choice team, but it would have been nice to have been able to see it.
Malk, England

Watching England lose is harsh at the best of times, but these last two tests have been truly awful. I think it is plain to see that England did indeed 'give up' and that is a far worse crime than losing against a great, great side playing at home. Some of the older player need to go, Caddick for definite, but have faith in Hussain.
Matt, England

The England team need to be more confident when they come out to bat. Vaughn looks like the only person wanting to win the series - all the other players just go out on the pitch and make fools of themselves. England must improve 100%, or face the whitewash which everyone is expecting.
JAS, England

Why is everybody being so hard on England? Granted, we've been totally outplayed in six out of eight days so far, but I seem to remember South Africa (supposedly the second best side in the world) losing five Tests in a row last winter.

We're up there with South Africa and India chasing Australia (though the gap is massive), so I suggest people look to this summer's series against South Africa before judging England's progress.
Keiran Trotter, England

I can't believe the slating England are getting. The current Australian team are by far one of the best teams ever to grace the sport. In recent years they've thrashed every other cricketing nation - including a 5-0 win over South Africa.

England have proved they are a good team in the last two years, but unfortunately Australia have the best 11 players in the world at the moment. Instead of criticising Hussain and the boys, why don't you just sit back and admire the best team you will ever see!
Nick Ball, Yorkshire

There's no shame in being beaten by a better side but I'd have liked to have seen a team of fit players up against the Aussies, not a bunch of crocks. The selectors should be giving more inexperienced players the chance to show what they can do, not picking a team full of players carrying injuries.
Bill, UK

Over the past few years virtually every other cricket nation as suffered the same fate as England are at the moment. I've been watching Test cricket for over 30 years, and alongside the West Indian side of the 80's this Aussie side is the best.
Steve Perry, UK

Having just spent a month in Australia I have found the reaction to the series is very different to what has been discussed here so far. The general feeling isn't one of taunting us for being so poor, but disappointment that as a sporting contest the Ashes hasn't been much of a series so far.

The Aussies want to win, but they would rather win after a tight contest than by the whitewash margins they are currently trouncing us by.
Simon, UK

Of course it's been worse. We are amongst the better sides (injuries permitting) in world cricket, but Australia are in a class of their own. We've proved we can compete, but the challenge now is to compete for sessions and days in a row. The only depressing thing is the inevitability of being crushed by this Aussie steamroller - just ask Pakistan!
Danny, England

What short memories everybody has. Am I the only one to remember out-playing (although drawing the series) New Zealand and India?? Or what about excellent performances against Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

Do the maths. England are away from home, inexperienced, plagued by injuries and are playing one of the best sides ever in Test history. What have they got going for them??
Gordon, England

Well, things are bad, but why get depressed - look at the plus points, like Michael Vaughan's knock in the first innings. Anyway, I have to be optimistic - I'm flying to Perth on Wednesday to watch the third Test!!
Ian Stenning, England

We are being outclassed. But every other cricketing nation in the world has suffered the same fate at the hands of the Australians. South Africa and Pakistan were humbled before us. I doubt if there is the same amount of self-flagellation and hand wringing going on in those two countries.

We have been poor at times, but we are not suddenly the worst team in the world. It is typical over-reaction. The first day in Adelaide we played well - and became 'brilliant'. Then we played badly and became 'appalling'.

Hussain is quite right to say we are a good team playing below par (for numerous reasons, not least injuries) against the best team in the world by a long way. It's not the end of the world.

I for one had high hopes before the series, but it has been a case of reality bites. Australia are simply a magnificent team. Did England's footballers become no better than part-timers because they lost to the future champions Brazil at the World Cup? No. The same is true of our cricketers.
Larold, England

So Emma (below), you want us to show you respect. How about your fans show our cricketers some respect, instead of abusing them when ever they get near the boundary. Apparently, Simon Jones, while laying in agony, was being called all the names under the sun by so-called Aussie fans.

Even the kids are at it, giving John Crawley grief as he walked off. As for the "barmy army", their chants are born out of the football fan culture, where opposing teams fans sing chants to each other, but it is just harmless banter, and not meant to offend.

I think the barmy army are to be congratulated for standing by their team, even when they are getting soundly beat.
KC, UK

Rather than whinging (like the supposed "whinging Poms" that we are), we should really be sitting back and enjoying the skills of Warne, McGrath and Gillespie - certainly the best bowling attack in world cricket since the '70s.

There's no shame in losing to a better team, and I for one, am glad that we've got the opportunity to watch these masterful Aussies one last time before they become too old!
Greg Kay, UK

We should be angry at the selectors not the players, they have continually picked players who have proved time and time again they are not up to the grade. The only reason Harmison and Jones got a look in was because of injury.

As far as I am concerned, if we lose the next Test, then the two matches after that should be used to blood all our young talent against the world's best team, otherwise we will come back from Australia with no pluses from this tour.
Ben Sammons, England

Following England is always depressing, but this tour is starting to reach new lows. Sitting at the Oval a few years ago in front of the New Zealand dressing room whilst they celebrated, with the fans singing "we are the worst team in the world" was fairly bad, but the performance in Australia is getting close to it!

You have to have a sense of humour to follow English cricket, but waking up every morning to see a scorecard with a fresh collapse in the batting another Aussie player with a big 100 is getting beyond a joke. Oh well, there is always the curling to watch!
Joel, UK

I despair of the moronic decisions of the England selectors and the decaying state of English cricket. I don't blame our team, who are hapless cannon fodder thrown into the lions' den of the Ashes series.

Hussain and his boys are now suffering the consequences of a loss of confidence, caused by their being pitted against overwhelming odds in a highly public arena.

Just go out there and enjoy playing cricket lads - we at home know who are the real villains of the piece.
Chris B, England

England are being hopelessly outplayed at the moment. But their fans should take their cue from Scottish football fans. Our attitude has always been that 'we're not the best in the world, but we'll support them anyway however poorly they play'.
Garry Waddell, UK

You mean the England cricket team still have people who pay to watch them play?! Now that's what I call staying power.
Eliza, South Africa

Cheer up. We have matched the finest side of modern times for seven sessions out of 21. That in itself is giving room for optimism. This great side will fade like other great sides, but until then just enjoy Aussie cricket at its best!
David Pearce, England

Depressed? Never - loving it!! After hearing of the Barmy Army's 'clever' song about the convict colony, I couldn't be happier! Show some respect - Australia is a great country with a very proud history. England is also a great country, but your supporters make it very easy to be happy with the poor results.
Emma, Oz in UK