AUSTRALIA are not in crisis but must rebuild urgently from ‘‘rock bottom’’.

After England had inflicted on them a third innings defeat of the 2010/11 Ashes and won the series 3-1 – a first outright win for them down under since 1986/87 – standin captain Michael Clarke refuted the ‘crisis’ theory.

But he agrees many things have gone badly wrong for the hosts over the past six weeks, and it is up to the players to put them right.

In his first Test as captain, deputising for the injured Ricky Ponting, Clarke had the misfortune to oversee the culmination of a resounding defeat which had been brewing since England went 1-0 up by a landslide margin in Adelaide early last month.

Australia hit back to level the series in style at Perth.

But another defeat followed inside four days, after Australia were bowled out for only 98 in their first innings in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

And Clarke is well aware there have been too many instances of under-performance this winter to do anything but ‘front up’.

He rejects the doomsday scenarios, acknowledges there are major issues, and backs his team-mates’ ability.

‘‘I don’t think there’s a crisis in Australian cricket at all,’’ he said.

‘‘We need a lot of improvement in our game, in all areas. But I do believe we have the talent and potential to do it.’’ Clarke has seen evidence of the above against England, just not remotely often enough.

Intriguingly, having lost to opponents who once admired and did not appear above copying everything Australian to try to turn the tide somehow, he is not too proud to cite the England template as the best way forward.

‘‘We’ve seen through this series that guys have stood up at different times. But we’re way too inconsistent to win a big series.

‘‘That’s what England have shown as a team. They have outplayed us, not one or two individuals.

‘‘I think 100 per cent we have to learn from what England did this series.

‘‘Their performance, not only with bat and ball, but in the field, was outstanding for a five-Test series.

‘‘There’s a great starting point to be able to turn up every day for five Tests, to perform as well as they did.

‘‘It takes a lot of discipline, a lot of planning. We do need to look at how England have played in this series, and take a lot of notes from that.

‘‘This is probably as close to rock bottom as it gets.

‘‘As players we feel disappointment right now, but we do see potential. We think we are better cricketers than we have shown.”