Ashes 2013-14: Alastair Cook laments England mistakes at MCG

England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side's eight-wicket defeat in the fourth Test was a fair reflection of their decline as they slipped to within one defeat of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

England dropped three catches at the MCG as Australia easily knocked off the remaining 201 runs on the fourth day.

"When you're struggling for a bit of confidence you can let those positions slip, and that's what we've done.

"We had three chances but didn't take them," said Cook.

"I can't explain the catching, a lot of things I can't explain. I suppose it shows where we are as a side."

Chris Rogers was dropped twice as he steered his side home with 116 less than a day after England had led by exactly that margin with all 10 of their second innings wickets in hand.

"It hurts when you get yourself in a position and you can't manage to do it," Cook added.

"A year ago we would have nailed that position."

England came into this series unbeaten in 13 Tests and Australia without a win in nine.

But just four months after winning the corresponding series in England 3-0, Cook's battered team are now facing a second unwanted clean-sweep in three tours down under as their collapse becomes more comprehensive with every match.

Three chances went begging early on, Cook dropping a sitter and new wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow guilty of two misses as mis-fields by out-fielders also hurt England.

Cook made some puzzling tactical decisions as Australia cantered to their target of 231, the highest successful fourth-innings score at this ground for over half a century.

He opted to remove his most threatening bowler, Stuart Broad, from the attack after just two overs, one of which had brought an edge, and then gave part-time spinner Joe Root a spell long before turning to his specialist Monty Panesar.

Cook has also had to deal with serious issues outside his control - the early departure of Jonathan Trott with a stress-related illness, the poor form and subsequent dropping of vice-captain Matt Prior and the shock retirement of key bowler Graeme Swann.

But Cook said: "We can't use anything that has happened as an excuse.

"We tried to get the ball reversing, we wanted to bowl the seamers with the harder ball. That is why Panesar was held off for a little while.

"I'm sure others would have done it differently, but if we knew the answers we'd be doing it.

"Eventually it will turn because there are some very good players in that dressing room. You can come to any of our training sessions and see how hard we're working."