Australia simply too good for England, says Flintoff

PERTH, Dec 18 (Reuters) England captain Andrew Flintoff dismissed suggestions his team's crushing Ashes defeat was the result of bad planning and poor selections.

Flintoff admitted England had underperformed in the first three tests but said the results had more to do with Australia's outstanding displays than his own team's shortcomings.

''At times we've shown on the field how talented we are... but we've not really been able to apply the pressure on Australia we'd have liked to have done,'' Flintoff told a news conference after losing the series-clinching third test today.

''Every time we've had a foot in the door they seem to have closed it on us. We never really managed to turn the screw.'' England have been criticised for their short preparation time before the first test and certain selections, especially the decision to choose spinner Ashley Giles ahead of Monty Panesar in the first two tests.

The folly of Panesar's omission was shown up when he picked up eight wickets in the third test, including five in the first innings.

But Flintoff said he was satisfied with all the selections and the performances of his players. He said everyone had made a contribution at some stage but they just had not done it at the same time.

''I stick by the side we took out there and I'm adamant we took the best side we could into the first two games,'' he said.

''These players will be around for a long time to come, have made great strides going forward and we still have a lot of talent within our squad.

''There's been some great things to come out of this trip so far.

The young lads have emerged, the likes of Alastair Cook scoring a hundred, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, the bowling of Matthew Hoggard and Monty.

''We played well in patches but last time we played well as a unit. Everyone in the side fired up at the same and I don't think this time that's occurred.'' Flintoff said he was still coming to terms with how quickly his team had conceded the Ashes but vowed to try and restore their battered pride by winning the last two tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

''Seeing and experiencing both sides of the Ashes now, having won them in 2005 and experienced the flipside of it this time, I'm not quite sure I can describe it,'' Flintoff said.

''Obviously it hurts, it's hurting a lot of the lads but we're going to have to get over it because we've got two more test matches to play.

''It's going to be a tough couple of days...but there's still a lot of that in the dressing room.

''There's a lot of character as well and there's a lot of lads who want to prove we can win a test match in Australia.'' REUTERS SAM KN1428