Players / New Zealand v England 2007-08 / Alastair Cook

The Ashes 2013-14

'Spineless ... a weak and feeble effort'

Jan 6, 2014: A selection of former England players had their say in the media about the team's woeful performance in Australia

The Ashes 2013-14

A catalogue of underperformance

Jan 6, 2014: ESPNcricinfo examines how England's players acquitted themselves during the disastrous 5-0 defeat in Australia

The Ashes 2013-14

England's road to hell

Jan 5, 2014: At the end, as their coach vowed to get more intense and controlling, England's players drifted round the SCG like broken machines

Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney, 3rd day

Well-prepared England well beaten

Jan 5, 2014: Andy Flower has been the best coach England have had but the environment he created has led to 5-0

Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney, 3rd day

England at 'rock bottom' - Cook

Jan 5, 2014: Alastair Cook admitted England had hit "rock bottom" after their Ashes whitewash but believes the team came recover from the humiliation

Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney

Australia eye unforeseen clean sweep

Jan 2, 2014: ESPNcricinfo's preview of the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG

England in Australia 2013-14

The strange beast called confidence

Jan 2, 2014: While Mitchell Johnson rides a wave, Alastair Cook has discoverd the perils of having to take big decisions alone in a stressful time

Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney

Cook faces second big challenge

Jan 1, 2014: Alastair Cook faced a tough task just over a year ago, with England's dressing room torn apart by bickering and the No. 1 Test ranking wrestled away by South Africa. Once again, in the final Test in Sydney, he has to rise to the challenge.

Where's the human touch?

Jan 1, 2014: There was something about England's cricket team, even when it was winning, that did not entirely connect with the public mood

It's the application, not the talent

Dec 30, 2013: Rarely have we seen turnaround like the one Australia have just effected, but the gulf between the two teams is not as vast as the scoreline might suggest

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day

Cook commits to England captaincy

Dec 29, 2013: Alastair Cook insisted he was "100% wanting to carry on" as England captain but was obliged to defend his senior players, the side's coaches and his own position in the aftermath of defeat in Melbourne

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day

Flower's time is up, England need a fresh approach

Dec 29, 2013: All the qualities that once rendered Andy Flower the perfect man for the job - his intensity, his attention to detail and his demanding personality - have now become the reasons he needs to go

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 3rd day

Australia gifted a reprieve by broken England

Dec 28, 2013: Nathan Lyon took 5 for 50, including his 100th Test wicket, as he and Mitchell Johnson inspired another England collapse to set up a chase of 231 for a 4-0 series lead

Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne

England embrace a fresh start

Dec 25, 2013: Alastair Cook believes England's fresh start extends beyond team selection and offers opportunities to improve on all fronts

Go forward, not back

Dec 18, 2013: Why an initial back-foot trigger movement may not be a great idea

The Ashes 2013-14

Can England's senior players fight back?

Dec 17, 2013: It used to be said that a player never recovers from the disappointment of a poor Ashes tour. What are the prospects for the senior England players who failed to deliver?

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 5th day

Cook faces up to senior players' failure

Dec 17, 2013: Alastair Cook admitted to the "lowest moment" of his career as England slumped to Ashes defeat in Perth and said several members of his side would be "playing for their future" in the remaining two games of the series.

The Ashes 2013-14

Exhausted and broken

Dec 17, 2013: ESPNcricinfo looks at five reasons for England's failure to compete in Australia

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

England sailing on a sinking vessel

Dec 16, 2013: James Anderson flogged, Kevin Pietersen throwing away his wicket and Stuart Broad hobbling around painted a picture of defeat as the Ashes drifted away from England

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 2nd day

Cook proves his worth as a leader

Dec 14, 2013: Forcing heart and nerve and sinew, Alastair Cook showed a precious ability to fight even when hope was fading, providing an example of the character and courage required in his team