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Ashes: 'Australia not better than England' : Mark Stoneman

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http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/42401187

Opener Mark Stoneman admits losing the first three Ashes Tests is "pretty devastating" but insists there is no gulf between England and Australia.

England surrendered the Ashes with defeat in Perth and are now looking to avoid a third 5-0 whitewash in their last four visits down under.

"We're capable of winning games here," Surrey batsman Stoneman told BBC Sport.

"It by no means felt an unachievable task and going to Melbourne we'll give everything to get a positive result."

England, who face Australia in the fourth Test at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day, have shown moments of promise in the series, bowling out the hosts for 328 in the first match in Brisbane and 138 in the second innings at Adelaide.

However, they lost those first two Tests by 10 wickets and 120 runs.

Then in Perth the tourists reached 368-4 after centuries from Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, but lost their last six wickets for 35 runs and went on to a defeat by an innings and 41 runs.

But, asked if it felt as if England were playing against a better side Stoneman, who has played six Tests, said: "In all honesty no, we're two sides of fairly balanced bowling attacks.

"They have maybe had us covered at times in the pace department but when we've had the ball moving we've shown we're able to put their batsmen under a lot of pressure and at times with the bat as well we've been putting runs on the board, but just not enough.

"Despite what's being reported in matters off-field this group has really worked hard and it's just those key moments each time they've managed to get the upper hand on us."

England have had to deal with incidents away from the field, with Bairstow accused of headbutting Australia's Cameron Bancroft - albeit in a manner intended to be genial - and Ben Duckett suspended from playing on the Lions tour of Australia after pouring a drink over James Anderson in a Perth bar.

"There's a lot made of nothing really and there's work that's going in, commitment that everybody throughout the group has shown, from the very beginning, pre-tour even, to give our utmost to be successful over here," said Newcastle-born left-hander Stoneman.

"Yes results haven't gone our way but the commitment and effort has never been wavering and that's quite disappointing when all the reports have been about trivial things."
 
Whats he supposed to say? That the aussies are better than england

Of course hes gonna try and put a positive spin on things
 
I sort of get what he is saying, Australia have definitely been the better team in this series and are undoubtedly the better team in these conditions due to their fast bowlers and Smith’s batting style, however in English conditions then it could well be the case that England get back on top. The Ashes has changed hands 6 times since 2005, that’s quite a lot for a 12-year period, particularly coming off the back of the Aussies holding the urn for 16 years previous to that.
 
Lol. England are finished.

Will be a number 4 or 5 side.

Root is overrated and bowling is horrible.

Australia have 4 world class players England none.
 
Well to be frank, England not putting enough runs on the board was their issue in India as well. They god the first crack of the pitch on few occasions and did not score enough and lost by an innings couple of times. England has to fix their batting issues and Root has to come to party more when he is overseas.
 
I take his point but the issue is not ability but performance level.

You’d have to ask which England players would get into this Aussie side on current form.

Malan. Bairstow. Anderson in the day/nighter. That’s about it.
 
Well what he is saying is right but again, England were let down by their experienced players. Cook, Root and Broad have been very poor this series. You cannot win a series with your top players not turning up.
 
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