Engalnd v Australia: Annoyed Strauss regrets missing out on whitewash

A 78-run margin of defeat appeared a fair reflection of a match in which Michael Clarke (99no) and Ricky Ponting (92) shared a third-wicket stand of 155 out of 290-5 and Ryan Harris then took 5-32 in England's tepid reply.

Mike Yardy's maiden one-day international half-century was England's only individual performance of note, as Australia reduced the arrears to 3-1 in a series England have already won.

Strauss had naturally been hoping to push for a 5-0 trouncing, but there was rarely any suggestion of a home win.

"It is annoying, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"We didn't get enough things right. We got off to a pretty good start with the ball. But Clarke and Ponting played really well in the middle period, where we had done best in the first three games.

"We couldn't stop them scoring, which was a little bit frustrating."

England hinted at making a game of it only in short spells, when they restricted Australia for a time after Ponting was out, and fleetingly while Eoin Morgan and Yardy were together with the bat.

Strauss's attack could not keep the run rate down between Clarke and Ponting on a very good pitch, after England had chosen to field first again.

"We tried seven bowlers, but on a flat wicket it was easy to hit through the line of the ball," added Strauss.

"But we bowled exceptionally well in their batting powerplay, and I think we felt we had a good chance of chasing 290 on a very flat wicket.

"But we just didn't get the batting right. I wouldn't be that harsh on the bowlers. I thought it was more the batsmen who were at fault.

"There were too many early wickets, and that puts a lot of pressure on the middle order – and Australia kept chipping away with wickets. It wasn't as good a performance as the first three (matches), and we've got what we've deserved."

Strauss confirmed he chose to put Australia in on the basis that England have previously chased well in this series.

"The idea of chasing down anything Australia set us has worked pretty well in the first three games and we didn't see any particular reason to change that today."

For Strauss's opposite number Ponting, there is at last something to smile about this summer. But he will not be getting carried away with one win out of four.

"I'm not sure if relief is the right word," he said.

"I'm proud of the boys for the way they played today.

"Things didn't go to plan in the first three games – so what I said to the boys this morning was to keep backing their instincts and talents and that soon enough our best cricket is going to come out.

"When you're in a situation like we were today, 3-0 down, it says a lot to be able to bounce back, pick yourself up and play a game like we did."