England batsman Ian Bell believes that the entire team should be blamed for their disappointing performances in the ongoing Ashes series against Australia.

Andy Flower's side have lost the opening three Tests matches Down Under to relinquish the urn.

"From 1-11 we haven't got close and that's brutally disappointing," The Mirror quotes him as saying. "Preparation was good and we had everything we needed to perform.

"As players we can't hide away from the fact that we haven't been good enough and haven't done what we needed to do. We know what it takes in Ashes cricket and we haven't been able to deliver that this time.

"At this level you have to keep on improving, you can't stay still and now there is an opportunity for us to really look at ourselves closely and make some improvements. I am sure we will bounce back because we always have done, but it is important that we do it quickly – and that means the MCG."

The fourth Test gets underway on Boxing Day in Melbourne.