BBC Test Match Special

More from England captain Joe Root: "It's bitterly disappointing. You take a lot of responsibility as captain. Fair play to Australia, they outplayed us in this game and won the key moments.

"I am proud of the way we battled, but we were outskilled. We have been in every game but not managed to drive it forwards. We haven't been completely outplayed we just haven't performed at that level for long periods of time.

"It's hard to take but it's part of cricket."

Joe Root averages 29.33 in this series.

Steve Smith? 142.

Australia talked before the series about nullifying Root, and how quietening the captain can affect the team. They've been proved right so far.

England captain Joe Root: "It is very difficult to take. Fair play to Australia - they have outplayed us in all three games. We've got to be better."

I'd argue that being 368-4 and then 403 all out was just as bad, if not worse, than being 100-4. That collapse...

The tails have proved to be a huge difference in this series. You always sense that Cummins, Starc and Lyon can hang around a bit if a batsman is set, even score runs in Cummins' case. You don't feel that with England.

England captain Joe Root: "To be 100-4 was not good enough - we need to learn from that. We've got to make sure we to Melbourne and put in really good performances there."

England captain Joe Root: "Those guys (Malan and Bairstow) putting in big performances under pressure was outstanding. Those two lads should be proud of that effort. The way Vincey played in that second innings was proper batting. He played exceptionally well."

Right, we've heard from the victorious captain - let's here from Joe Root...

Australia captain Steve Smith: "I've had a fine bowling attack, and I include Nathan Lyon in that. The boys have done a fantastic job. We haven't won a toss and had the hardest of the conditions but we've taken 20 wickets in every match."

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Steve Smith even loves cricket more than Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, did. The emotion shows on the field. This is a big win for him and he's shown what a quality player he is.

Steve Smith looks utterly thrilled at the way his day has turned out. Big smile on his face, genuine pride in the way his players have performed. Like a proud father. He says it was horrible seeing weather like that last night in Perth.

Steve Smith is named man of the match. Another one for the mantelpiece.

"I couldn't care less, but it's nice to get recognition," says Smith.

Image source, Getty Images

This, dare I say, doesn't feel as demoralising as previous Ashes losses in Australia. England have been competitive at times. It's just not been for long enough, and they've not been able to grab the moments where they've been on top. Australia have snaffled up nearly all the opportunities that have come their way.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Nothing we have in English cricket would have changed the result. I can't think of any player at home who could have made so much difference.

Ben Stokes would have helped the batting and I would be surprised if he didn't score runs at some point over here because he's a good player but we've been outplayed. They have more pace than us, a better spinner than us and when their batsmen get in they make it count like Smith and the two Marsh's have.

Joe Root has just said much the same thing in his post-match presentation. He says that "by the end there, it probably was fit to play on."

Glenn McGrath
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

The Ashes means so much to Australian players - and you could see the emotion after that last wicket fell. They have outplayed England in most departments. It will be a special time for the boys tonight.

Image source, PA

I've really enjoyed Josh Hazlewood in this series so far. He looks so unassuming but the way he bowls - the consistency, the pace, the ability to mix up his lengths so easily - has been so crucial for Australia.

Nathan Lyon, too, has shown the importance of having a spinner who can hold up an end, allowing Smith to rotate his bowlers, while at the same time getting into the heads of England's processions of left-handers.

Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft on ABC: "It's a big series in a lot of ways and all the boys are so pleased to have regained the Ashes. I've loved every minute of it."

An innings and 41 runs is such a dominant scoreline. But to think England were 368-4... they let an opportunity slip, as they did in Adelaide, and as they did at the Gabba. They'll be kicking themselves.