A match the English described as the "biggest game of our lives" ended in embarrassing fashion when Joe Root's men succumbed by an innings and 41 runs in Perth.

The loss of star all-rounder Ben Stokes crippled England's campaign but nor were they helped by some substandard performances from their most experienced players.

One of the best batsmen in the world, Root has endured another lean run in Australia with only 176 runs at less than 30. While he will not be dropped like he was four years ago, he has failed to get anywhere near the standards expected of a leader.

Former captain Cook has gone 10 consecutive innings without a half-century for the first time in his decorated career.

He has potentially four innings to convince England selectors he should be on the plane to New Zealand. His critics have questioned if the hunger remains though he has continued to train hard.

"Cooky's played the game for long enough, I'm sure he'll know when it's time to go," England coach Trevor Bayliss, who is also a selector, said.

Broad delivered his worst Test performance with the ball and his lack of fight with the bat has been in marked contrast to the pluck shown by the Australian tail.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali is also terribly out of form with both bat and ball.

Bayliss said past Ashes failures in Australia may have been a contributing factor to his senior players' poor series.

"Whether they know the consequences of not playing well and that's put extra pressure on I don't know," Bayliss said.

"Sometimes that happens. They're all extremely good international cricketers and I fully expect them to come back from this."

Root says Cook, who is England's all time leading run-scorer, and Broad and Anderson, their country's two leading wicket-takers, will have much to offer the team.

"Their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves and they have been in situations where things haven't gone for them before and that's why they have played so many games," Root said.

"I see no reason why throughout the rest of this series that they can't do that again."

Root said his own failure was not due to England's long list of off-field issues.

"The biggest detriment is trying too hard," Root said. "I've been desperate for us to win this series."

Stokes' absence has been keenly felt by England, though they did not entertain suggestions the scoreline would be different had he not been unavailable due to his part in a brawl in September.

The all-rounder adds starch to England's middle and lower order with his power hitting while he is also a force with the ball.

Without Stokes, it's been a case of 'five out, all out' for England, who lost a game-changing 6-35 in the first innings here and 5-46 on the last day.

"What I will say is it changed the dynamic of our team but I certainly think the Australian team was too strong for us whether he was here or not," Bayliss said.

"They haven't been whinging about him not being here, they're just getting on without him. It certainly has been a change to the set-up we've had the last couple of years.

"He is a leader on the field. Even tactically he's a go-get-them-type guy.

"The Australians respect that in him."