Captain: 'I'm not walking away'

Nasser Hussain ended speculation about his immediate future as England captain by insisting he would carry on for the remainder of the winter despite losing the series. "The one thing I'm not going to do is walk away from this team in their present bruised and battered state and give it to some young lad and say 'you take them out there'," he said.

"That would be really good for Nasser Hussain because I could just go and concentrate on my batting and it would be the easiest thing for me to do, but I would not take that option against this lot."

The difference in the wickets between England and Australia, the streamlined make-up of Australia's domestic game, the emphasis placed on top-level sport and a lack of mental strength have all been blamed for England's failure to compete. And while Hussain admits that his side has inadequacies, he believes the biggest factor is the home side's excellence – India, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa have all been whitewashed on Australian soil during the last four years.

"When you play against other sides in the world you can get by because there's always a release of pressure, but against this side there is no release of pressure," he said. "It's the same whoever was bowling at you and I'm sure that's how the bowlers feel. Therefore everything you've learned up until this stage is not going to hold you in good stead because in English county cricket and other Test cricket there are always freebie runs and freebie wickets and you don't get that out here."

Hussain also defended the Australian bowler Brett Lee, who was booed after sending Alex Tudor to hospital with a gashed forehead. "It showed no knowledge of the game of cricket because it's a man's game out there," Hussain said. "I enjoyed facing him out there and I enjoyed the contest – although Tudor's probably not saying that at the moment."

After being shown on television venting his frustration in the dressing room, he said: "After the couple of months I've had I think I'm entitled to kick a few coffins."

ROLL OF DISHONOUR Australia have now won the last eight series against England

1989: England 0 Australia 4
1990-91: Australia 3 England 0
1993: England 1 Australia 4
1994-95: Australia 3 England 1
1997: England 2 Australia 3
1998-99: Australia 3 England 1
2001: England 1 Australia 4
2002-03: Australia lead 3-0 with two Tests remaining.