Tony Becca

When the Ashes series 2006/07 began in Australia back in November, there were many people, including a host of Englishmen, who, remembering the results of the previous summer, were willing to place a bet on England coming out victors.

There were also, however, many who were willing to bet on Australia. In fact, there were many, mostly Australians and including their fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who were willing to bet heavily that Australia would not only win but that it would be five for Australia and zero for England.

No one, however, not one Englishman or one Australian, believed that even in the absence of Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones, it would have been so easy that it was almost like men playing against boys.

NAILED ENGLAND

In the first Test in Brisbane, Australia made 602 for nine declared, nailed England for 157, chipped to 202 for one declared, and then dismissed the visitors for 370 to win by 277 runs.

In the second Test in Adelaide, England posted 551 for six declared, Australia replied with 513, Australia then ripped out England for 129 and eased to 168 for four to win by six wickets.

In the third Test in Perth, Australia surprisingly fell for 244, but recovered to bowl out England for 213, blasted 527 for five declared, and then dismissed England for 370 to win by 206 runs.

In the fourth Test in Melbourne, Australia routed England for 159, powered their way to 419, and then removed England for 161 to win by an innings and 99 runs; and in the fifth Test in Sydney, Australia bowled out England for 291, scored 393, removed England for 141 and then scored 46 without loss to win by 10 wickets.

Australia were so dominant that every time England looked like threatening, with bat or with ball, such as the second Test when England, resuming on the last day on 59 for one and 97 runs in front, were destroyed for 129, Australia just upped their play a notch and knocked them flat.

With Australia's Michael Hussey scoring 458 runs at an average of 91.60, captain Ricky Ponting 576 at 82.28, and Michael Clarke 389 at 77.80, with Stuart Clark taking 26 wickets, McGrath 21, Shane Warne 23, and Brett Lee 20, with Kevin Pietersen scoring 490 at 54.44, Paul Collingwood 433 at 48.11, and with Matthew Hoggard taking 13 wickets, Andrew Flintoff 11, Monty Panesar 10, and Steve Harmison 10, a look at the individual figures also underlines the difference in the two teams.

And so far, although they have won one match - a close finish against New Zealand, England's one-day performances have not been any better.

In fact, they have been worse than they were in the Test matches.

The scores in their one-day matches to date read: England 242 for 8, Australia 246 for two off 45.2 overs; Australia 289 for 8, England 184 off 38.3 overs; New Zealand 205 for 9, England 206 for 7 off 49.5 overs; England 155, Australia 166 for 6 off 38.4 overs; New Zealand 210, England 110 off 37.5 overs in 163 minutes; and England 110 in 34.3 overs in 148 minutes, Australia 111 for 1 off 24.3 overs in 101 minutes.

ROUGH SEASON

It has been a rough season for England, they seem to be getting worse and worse with each passing day, their cricket has never been so poor - not even immediately following the second World War, and after all the promise, all the expectations at the start of it, they must be anxiously awaiting the end of the tour.

Regardless of what coach Duncan Fletcher and captain Andrew Flintoff may say in defence of their players, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is that England have been poor - so poor, and especially so in an Ashes series, that were they the West Indies, their fans would have been calling for heads to roll.