We've been through the mill too, says England coach

Claims in the Australian media that the team's defeat in the final Test was down to fatigue have been strongly rebutted by the England coach.

Duncan Fletcher insisted that England had won the game at Sydney fair and square, while pointing out that England's own schedule this year has been hectic, and their record of injuries Down Under unprecedented.

England's overwhelming win by 225 runs was against an Australian team that lacked their two champion bowlers, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, who have taken 913 Test wickets between them. Andrew Bichel and Jason Gillespie both sustained minor injuries during the match.

"I see in the Australian press that the reason they lost is that they are tired and have had injuries," said Fletcher. "It's easy to forget what we have gone through and that we have been going for a hell of a lot longer than them.

"We didn't have a break in June and July like they did, a three-month break. We have been going since New Zealand last year.

"(Sydney) was a very big win for us and I really believe we convincingly beat them. In front of a crowd like that it showed a lot of character from the guys.

"We always feel that at some stage you can beat a side. You have got to believe you can go in there and beat them and hope the rest of the guys have that same feeling."

For Australia's captain Steve Waugh, the magnificent century he made on day two at Sydney to equal Sir Donald Bradman's record was eclipsed somewhat by the final result.

"I think the guys were a bit flat going into this game," said Waugh, who will be pondering his international future over the next few days.

"Maybe part of the attention had turned to the World Cup as well because we had won the series and the World Cup's not far away and you don't want guys getting injured.

"I think now with the players going to the World Cup it's about man-management, not overplaying them and making sure that they're peaking for the World Cup. That is where they are going to be judged."

Waugh has withdrawn from the Sir Don Bradman XI to meet England in Bowral tomorrow with a groin strain.

"I'll just relax for one or two days, have a good think about it, get away from cricket and be with family and friends and talk through it," he said. "I'll go through the pros and cons and weigh it up. Just see what the right decision is and hopefully make that right decision."

Ronnie Irani will captain England in tomorrow's match, while Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Caddick, Steve Harmison and Alec Stewart are all rested. Owais Shah will keep wicket, while two members of the Test squad, Richard Dawson and Robert Key, will play before returning to England in a few days' time.

Ashley Giles could be back in action for the remaining one-day matches in Australia after recovering from a broken wrist. The Warwickshire spinner, who was injured in the nets in Adelaide six weeks ago, will rejoin the England squad this weekend.