Ok, I am not a big cricket fan and never will be but would never miss an Ashes series. This one had me amazed. When we lost the Ashes last series the English team was brilliant and really looked like they would be a strong challenge when they arrived for this series, and in future series.

Have to ask...what happened to the English team?????

There is no way that any Aussie fan would have seriously picked a series result of 5-0 in favour of Australia. I know that there were tongue in cheek comments of 5-0 but they were not serious when they were made.

I think every Aussie has been sitting back in amazement at what has been unfolding this summer.

Great way for Warne, McGrath and Langer to go out on.

Also, well done to the England team for what they did on the final day of the SCG test. Down 4-0 and looking at 5-0 with only 46 runs to defend in the second innings, the English team gave a guard of honour as respect for retiring Langer as he began the Aussie innings. Showed real class considering how demoralised the team must have been.

Finally, the Barmy army. Would love to have been at the cricket in person to experience the atmosphere they created. You could hear them on the telecasts singing all day, regardless of the result, and it was absolutely brilliant to hear.

Aussies played brilliantly, never gave an inch on any ball, absolute perfection. Desrving of the 5-0.

Too many English players out of form and missing Vaughan's captaincy and Simon Jones' bowling are reasons I could offer, but the main reason was Australia were back to their brilliant best. Still bemused that England didn't bring in Panesar sooner and drop Geraint Jones (Read couldn't bat either, but at least he knows how to keep wicket!), but it wouldn't really have made much difference - although it might possibly have saved us the humiliation of the whitewash at least.

I think it's a real shame that Warne's retiring - you could see that he had at least a couple more years at the very top if he wanted - but who can begrudge the old fella a rest after all he's given the game. Some Aussies might be surprised at this, but almost every England fan I've spoken to would have liked to see him carry on. No offence to McGrath and Langer (great players both of them), but Warney's different class! Will be interesting to see how Australia get on without him (although  knowing Australia, it'll no doubt be "business as usual")

Saw a recent article in the paper analysing Australia's results without Warne and McGrath. Without either there was only a small drop off in winning percentage but without both playing we dropped off to less than 50%.

My tip is that we will be an average team in the future.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. You already seem to have a ready-made replacement for McGrath in Clark. Replacing Warne might be more difficult, but I'm sure you'll have at least a half-decent spinner ready to step in. The retirements will almost certainly bring you closer to the chasing pack, but I don't see Australia relinquishing their No. 1 status for some while yet. We can all dream it might happen though ...