ANDREW Flintoff has insisted England cannot afford to spend days overcoming the disappointment of losing the Ashes after slipping to a comprehensive 206-runs defeat in the third Test at Perth.

The dejected England captain admitted being lost for words in the immediate aftermath of the defeat at the WACA, which ended their brief 463 days hold on the Ashes since the memorable scenes at the Oval in September, 2005.

Resuming 291 runs adrift on 265 for five, England slumped to 350 all out just two balls after lunch having lost their last five wickets for only 14 runs to begin the Australian celebrations.

But with just eight days to go before the start of back-to-back Tests in Melbourne and Sydney - when thousands of England fans will again be travelling to add their support - Flintoff stressed there was little time to recover.

"We've had a taste over three Test matches and the Ashes have gone now, but we've got to come back hard and we can't mope around," said Flintoff.

"We've got two big Test matches still in an Ashes series and we want to give a good account of ourselves in them.

"The disappointment has in some ways set in now, but it will feel worse the day after. It will be a tough couple of days but when you talk about pride there is a lot of that in our side and a lot of character as well.

"There are a lot of lads who want to prove that we can win a Test match in Australia and prove they play against Australia so I don't think there will be a need to rally round the lads.

"I get a sense of how they're feeling by the way I'm feeling. I hope we enjoy our Christmas and then hit them hard on Boxing day."

Struggle

Flintoff was the first to fall this morning after hitting a quickfire 51, his highest score of the series, and admitted he was struggling to express his vast disappointment at being unable to match the achievement of 2005.

"Before we started we obviously didn't want to be three-nil down in Perth and having now experienced both sides of the Ashes with winning them in 2005 and now experiencing the flipside, I'm not quite sure I can describe it," he said.

"I'm looking for words. Obviously it hurts the lads but we have to get over it because we've got two more Test matches to play.

"We played well in patches but I don't think we played as well as we can do. Last time we played well as a unit and everyone in the side fired at the same time.

"I don't think that occurred this time and for Australia it did. If you look at the way their batters have played, they've all scored runs and they've bowled well as a unit too.

"I'm still proud to be England captain and I always will be to get the chance to lead my country."

Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting, who suffered plenty of criticism after becoming the first captain in 16 years to lose the Ashes, claimed his side would not just be satisfied with winning the series.

Only one side in Ashes history - the 1920-21 Australians - have claimed a 5-0 whitewash, but Ponting suggested this team had the hunger to attempt a repeat.

"I'm going to be satisfied for the next few days but of course we want to win every game we play," said Ponting. "To represent your country is a great honour and a great thrill and you want to do as best as you can when you've got the baggy green cap on.

"That's exactly what I'll be saying to the rest of the guys leading up to the Boxing Day Test. I know for a fact there are a lot of the guys who still aren't finished and they want to finish this series off on a great note.

"I'm sure we'll play some excellent cricket in the next two games - I won't be happy if we lose a Test match from here and I'm sure the other players are in exactly the same boat."

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