Australia have definitely out bowled England on this tour. The difference has been, when their batsman have got in, they have gone big. For England, only Alastair Cook really has gone big with his unbeaten double century in the fourth Test at the MCG. In virtually every match, at least one of the Australian batsman has gone big and that is why they have only needed to bat once on occasions.

I have been listening to all the pundits doing their Ashes debrief afterwards, and that is the easiest job in the world. It is easy to say “why did England not play Mason Crane earlier in the series”. For me, preparation is key and it has to start early. This tour has proved that. But if England had been able to call upon a fit Mark Wood and a fit Ben Stokes, it might have been a bit of a different story.

I mentioned before the Test that I thought off-spinner Moeen Ali has to be a better bowler on a flat pitch. He is a fine bowler on a turning pitch. But he has to find a way of causing problems to batsman on a flat pitch. He goes around the wicket a lot and I like that. I’m sure Ali has been working closely with England’s spinning coach, Saqlain Mushtaq, but his plans around the wicket have not been quite right for me.

England could do with a spinner like Nathan Lyon. He gets drift and bowls on a good length. He can hold an end up for 15 overs, while the Australian quick bowlers rotate at the other end. Lyon is very similar to Graeme Swann, although Swanny will like to think he is better!

However, I do think England’s batsman have been too defensive against Lyon. First innings, it’s the batsman’s domain. Then, in the second innings, it’s the bowler’s domain. If England’s batsman are coming down the pitch and hitting the spinners for six in the nets, if I was a spinner, I would want to know why they are not doing that in a match. You have to practice in the way you are going to play. I’m a big believer in that.

Joe Root’s dehydration problem seems a little bit ridiculous to me. That shouldn’t be happening. I played all round the world as a wicket-keeper and never had that problem. There are all sorts of salt tablets and fluids he could have taken. The only reason why that might have happened is perhaps Root has been a bit more ill than we have been led to believe.

When you go to Australia, you have to pick the most mentally resilient players. From walking through customs at the airport to practising to going out to a restaurant, there is a barrage of negativity. You have to be resilient in your character to stand up to that.

Pressure is always what you put on yourself. I really believe that. You have to believe in yourself and Tom Curran has done that and shown his ability.

There was a special moment in the fifth Test in Sydney when brothers Mitchell and Shaun Marsh both celebrated each other’s centuries at the crease together. I remember playing against their old man, Geoff, and also watching him play. He had a great character. I would guess Shaun and Mitchell have never both scored tons in the same match before, not even in their own back yard. Remember, one of them probably would have had to bowl at the other!

People have questioned Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. But Anderson’s figures in the first innings of this Test match are 1-56 off 34 overs, including 14 maidens. That is world-class. The Aussie batsman are just wanting to stay in against Anderson. Broad is a bit more attacking but he is a proven bowler, too.

For me, Root could still bowl more overs because he is a canny operator. But Ali has to find a way to go for under three runs per over. He has just got to find a way to do that.

Ultimately, I think you have to admit Australia have won all the key battles in all areas during this Ashes series. Batting, bowling and fielding, they have just been better. England look like they are lacking in confidence.

Cumbrian Stokes, who has been selected for the tri-series T20 squad which will see England take on Australia and New Zealand, has been a big miss. He has that roll-up your sleeve and make something happen kind of mentality. If he had been involved, Australia probably would have needed to have batted more than once.

To end the series Down Under by being dismissed for 180 is disappointing. But Curran stood up with another 23 not out. I love his attitude. He is a genuine all-rounder.