FLETCHER LAMENTS MISSING PLAYERS

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Michael Vaughan - key figure missing.

Coach Duncan Fletcher denied England were lacking desire following their 2005 win but were rather missing the experienced players which helped regain the urn.

Australia completed a 5-0 Ashes whitewash of the tourists on Friday, wrapping up a 10-wicket win before lunch on day four after being set just 46 runs to win following England's second-innings collapse to 147 all out.

"On numerous occasions we competed with Australia but there were just areas where we weren't consistent enough," Fletcher said.

"You look back at after that Ashes side, we had a whole squad under 30 years of age and there's been some big loses to this side, huge losses, and it always takes time to fill those gaps.

"When you get young guys coming into a side, they're always inconsistent and that's what happened.

"We took about two years to build that Ashes-winning side.

"This winter was probably a winter too early."

Fletcher rejected the notion 5-0 was a fair reflection of the difference in quality between the sides, adding : "The game in Adelaide, we were really competitive there and we just let the game slip away for one session.

"If we'd drawn that game, and gone on, anything can happen.

"There's no doubt about it Australia played some much better cricket than us.

"We didn't play to our true ability but, if we did, it still it would've been a very, very tough series to win."

Fletcher once again admitted mistakes were made over selection, but insisted they were not much different to those made when England won the Ashes and that there was no need to change the process.

"When we won the Ashes, we made some mistakes. You've just got to make sure when you go back, you reflect on them and try and not repeat those mistakes again.

"From my point of view, the selection process is fine. It's been successful.

"It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong in this series?

"I don't think it has to be changed at this stage but other people feel differently."

Fletcher also insisted he was happy with Flintoff as captain but refused to be drawn over whether he would retain the role for the one-day series.