Flower has to decide if it is time to go, says Boycott

Alastair Cook’s men have been outplayed in every department in what is turning out to be a nightmare tour to Australia, who ended a run of three consecutive series defeats against England by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in Perth yesterday.

With Tests in Melbourne and Sydney to follow, there is cause for concern that the tourists are heading for a 5-0 whitewash defeat.

Boycott said: “The planning and the prep of the team – it’s all gone haywire. In all areas they have been better than us.

“They have had good plans and executed them really well while we’ve cocked it up big time.”

Boycott was particularly critical of England’s coaching staff and has demanded team director Andy Flower leave his position if he is not up to the challenge of leading the side any more.

“Some of our coaching staff should have a serious look at themselves because we are on the down and Australia are on the up,” added Boycott, who scored 8,114 runs in 108 Tests for England.

“We should be thinking and planning for 2015. Is our coach up to it?

“The top people have to decide – Andy Flower, are you going to be here next year? Are you staying or going? If you’ve had enough, go now. We have to be up for the challenge – we have to have the b***s to do something.”

Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne believes England captain Cook has to assert his authority in order to change the fortunes of the team.

Warne has been a prominent critic of Cook’s style of captaincy for some time and believes the left-handed opener can take a leaf out of opposite number Michael Clarke’s book.

He said: “I think Alastair Cook is a wonderful guy, I think he’s a fantastic spokesman for the team, I think the way he conducts himself on and off the field is outstanding, the way he’s got the dressing room together is outstanding, but he really needs to lift tactically.

“I think he needs to grab the team and say ‘I’m in charge’.

“If you look at the Australian team, you know exactly who’s in charge. There’s no one else waving the field around, there’s no other bowlers telling people where to go. Michael Clarke’s in charge. Alastair Cook needs to take charge now.”

Ian Botham hit out at the England batsmen: “I feel a bit for the bowlers because they’ve only had two days in the whole series where they haven’t been in the field and that’s because the batsmen have not performed.”