England head coach Trevor Bayliss has backed experienced players Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad to bounce back, after the visitors lost the Ashes trophy to Australia on the final day of the Perth Test.
Earlier today, England slumped to a crushing defeat by an innings and 41 runs against Australia on the final day of the third Ashes Test of the five-match series at the WACA in Perth.
Trailing by 259 runs in the first innings after Australia declared at huge total of 662 for nine, Josh Hazlewood ran through England's batting line-up as he clinched five wickets to bundle out the visitors for 218 and ensure his side regain the coveted urn.
While Cook has failed to reach half-century in the series so far, Broad has ended the third Test wicketless, with speculations continue to mount around their future.
However, Bayliss believes the two senior players still have very much to offer the England set up, before backing the players to rebound strongly and come good in future.
"I think they both agree they are a little bit closer to the end than the start. That just happens with experience, the older you get. But there's no reason why they can't continue to be a part of this England team into the future," Bayliss was quoted as saying.
Broad has received a flurry of criticism during the series for wasting the new ball on a number of occasions by delivering the ball in bad areas.
But Bayliss insisted that Broad is a quality pace bowler, who would surely turn the things around.
"Broady is a quality pace bowler and has been for a number of years. He didn't take any wickets in this game but I'm sure it's not the first time and I'm sure he's got that experience to be able to bounce back," Bayliss said.
England captain Joe Root, too, refused to blame his senior players for the tourists' stunning Ashes defeat but lamented his own failures to lead the way with the bat against Australia.
All-rounder Moeen Ali is also under the microscope after a forgettable campaign with bat and ball. Cook has scored only 83 runs in the series at an average of 13.83, comfortably the worst of England's specialist batsmen. England's most prolific Test run scorer was playing his 150th test at the WACA. Broad went wicketless for 142 runs, his worst Test bowling figures. For his part, Moeen has managed only three wickets for the series at a miserable 105.33 apiece.
Root, appointed captain only in February, backed Broad and Cook to still be playing for England in 12 months' time. "I'd like to think so," the 26-year-old captain said. "They've got huge amounts of experience and they do offer a lot to the group and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves.
"They've been in situations where things haven't gone for them before and that's why they've played so many games. It's important we don't panic and make hasty decisions after three games."
England, who have now lost the Ashes series by 0-3 against Australia, will now play the inconsequential fourth Test, beginning December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).