That's as close as England will get to a win. Aus will only get better as they both acclimatize and adapt to the slog fest approach of their opponents.
Aus were chronically under done and their best two batsmen contributed nothing, yet they still won. You could see how rusty Cummins was first dig but once he started getting better, England predictably couldn't handle him. Add to that Haze hadn't played in six months and the deck was completely unsuited to Boland. England couldn't dismiss Cummins and Lyon on a wearing deck with a new or an old ball. They were done in by their limited attack and the Aus approach to wear them down by batting time and being patient. Who'd have thought?
Aus have had their first look at biff ball, and they've stared it down. England lost because they played without regard to the conditions or their opponents. That and the fact they just aren't as good as Australia, bar about three proven players - Root, Stokes and Broad. And Stokes is pretty crocked with his knee. This isn't a half strength Pakistan or a Boult-less NZ they're playing ffs. Aus basically have them covered across all conditions and in all facets of the game, except run rate. And we all saw how really important that was, didn't we?
People on here are moaning about England's missed chances as though Aus played at 100%. They dropped four catches in the first innings themselves. Aus were at about 65-70% at best. England went with a flat deck because they know their batting can't handle sideways movement at all, but their bowlers are ineffective without something in the deck to help them, Broad excepted. Aus have a world class spinner, England have a cardboard cut out of one. The only way England can bat is to go as hard as they can on flat pitches because apart from Root they lack the technique or temperament to grind out a tough lest knock against a good attack. They won a good toss, had the best of the conditions, puffed out their chests and played like idiots. Because that's all they have, all they know and all they're capable of.
The gap between these sides isn't tiny like people are suggesting, it's a yawning chasm. It was made closer here by virtue of the deck, Australia being rusty and two of the best players in the world missing out at once. The series is as done now as it was when I called this six months ago. The result here flattered England. They are going to get steam rolled, because apart from lack of ability, for all the plaudits the wondrous new approach gets, it's actually incredibly one dimensional and extremely limited.
4-0 Aus with the rain saving a whitewash. You all should have got on months ago.