All the optimism of the early summer, all the confidence and spirit that came from the one-day internationals and the first Test, disappeared into the Trent Bridge air yesterday as if they had been so much candyfloss. England may have been outplayed overall in the fifth Test but for much of it they had competed on a reasonably level playing field. This, though, was a day too far.

When Mark Waugh plucked from the air the catch that put the seal on match, Ashes and series, and began what must surely have been the most raucous party ever in Nottingham, it put the punctuation on a series of performances that had put English pretences firmly in their place. This, make no mistake, had been one of the worst days of the summer.

The performances of all the England players in this match will now come under scrutiny with one Test remaining and a Caribbean tour in the offing. So too will Mike Atherton's status as captain.

In an early gesture of faith, he had been appointed for the entire summer. But he is known to subscribe to the view that a captain should be in charge until he is sacked or resigns.

Atherton has been an underrated captain, remains a stubborn man loathe to concede ground, and has made no suggestion that he is about to give up the job. But in the cold light of day, he might well take the view that the England team has progressed as far as it can under his stewardship.

England had been bowled out for 186 in one delivery less than 49 overs, not by Shane Warne's mastery of the arts of spin (although he did pick up three late wickets) but by the pace of Glenn McGrath, Paul Reiffel and, in particular, Jason Gillespie, the man of the match from Headingley.

Three top-order English batsmen succumbed in 20 balls in the middle of an eight-over spell of unadulterated tripe that cost 65 runs, figures that would be considered expensive in a Sunday slog.

England had no realistic chance of achieving 451 runs for victory, but a draw would have left them with the opportunity of levelling the series on a ground where their record of success is good. With thunder in the air and forecast for today anything could happen. Instead they never gave themselves a chance.

The destruction began after Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart had added 25 for the first wicket. With tea imminent, McGrath concocted as delivery that spat from nowhere at Atherton's throat, flicking a glove on the way through to Healy. Perhaps it was the way it panned out or maybe there was something more sinister that meant a batsman was never entirely in, but a pitch that to outward appearances had been the best of the series, had seen nine batsmen pass 50 without one going on to a century.

Immediately after the interval, Stewart, who had just kept wicket through the best part of 100 overs, edged to Steve Waugh in the gully and the head had been knocked off the innings.

Now it was Gillespie's turn. After the success of Leeds he had failed to bowl with any rhythm here, reverting to a length too short for comfort. So, despite the precarious situation, Hussain and Crawley began to take advantage, adding 53 for the third wicket, before Hussain, over exhuberant, dragged a vast drive onto his stumps.

In the circumstances it was unforgiveable cricket, compounded two overs later when Crawley flicked at Gillespie and for the second time in the match was caught down the leg side. It was a measure of the contrary nature of the England side that they had just made the fastest 50 of the match at a time when circumspection might have been called for.

Adam Hollioake was then leg before wicket to complete Gillespie's disbelief. In the meantime, however, while Warne spun away from one end, Thorpe had been scything away at Gillespie on both sides of the wicket as if the last buccaneer on a pirate ship under siege, reaching his second 50 of the match from 41 balls. No one could stay with him.

Ben Hollioake was an age getting off the mark and then padded up to a leg break that would have hit middle, Robert Croft smacked Warne for six and then smeared the next ball to mid-on (he needs reminding of his batting responsibilities) and with the normal close approaching, Caddick was leg before to a flipper. It gave Australia the breathing space to finish the game.