'Eng dressing room in disarray'

Pietersen rubbishes talks of retirement, promises to regain the Ashes

Dressing room disharmony was a major factor in England's 5-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia, according to former Test spin bowler Phil Tufnell.

England produced five sorry performances in only the third Ashes series whitewash and coach Andy Flower spoke of "an end of an era" following the final capitulation in Sydney.

"There must be something going on in that dressing room where people don't feel they want to fight for each other," Tufnell, who took 121 wickets in 42 Tests for England, said on BBC radio.

"How did Jonathan Trott go and play that first Test match and then just say 'I'm not well' wasn't that picked up?

"Graeme Swann plays three Test matches, loses and leaves. 

"That's two very experienced players who have just gone and left the side.

"That shows there is not a mentality pushing in the right direction, perhaps there are too many agendas going on."

Trott returned home after one match, citing stress-related problems while Swann decided to end his career once Australia sealed the series in Perth.

Batsman Kevin Pietersen's future in the side had come under scrutiny in the wake of the defeat, but he insisted on Tuesday he was determined to carry on and try to win back the Ashes. "Very disappointed to lose 5-0, and not to score more runs personally. Tough tour against a top class team," Pietersen, who scored 294 runs at an average of 29.40 during the five Tests, wrote on his Twitter page.

"I want to thank all the England fans for their terrific support. And I'm determined to help regain the Ashes in 2015."

Spinner Graeme Swann announced his retirement after the urn was lost following the third Test, while batsman Jonathan Trott quit after the first match because of a stress-related illness which is expected to keep him out for the foreseeable future.

Pietersen was one of several players who came under fire from former cricketers during the loss for his failure to dig in for the under-pressure team and shy away from his flamboyant, attacking style.

Flower said everyone in the set-up would be evaluated.

"This was a bad loss for the England cricket team and as part of our review, we'll be looking at playing personnel and support staff and making sure we have the right people in place," Flower told reporters on Monday.

Former captain Michael Vaughan wanted England to make Pietersen more responsible by naming him vice-captain.

"I have my fingers crossed and hope England do not take the easy way out of this mess by making Kevin Pietersen the victim for the Ashes whitewash," Vaughan, who in 2005 became the first England skipper to win the Ashes since Mike Gatting in 1986-87, wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.

"I accept something has to give. Either Kevin is given more responsibility, and I suggested at the weekend that he should be made vice-captain, or he has to go. There is no point keeping him on as a peripheral figure,” Vaughan continued. 

"Alastair Cook needs to use Pietersen properly and ask him how he sees his own future, and his view on the style of cricket the team have to play to become No. 1 in the world again,” he added.