Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has admitted Australia "wasn't up for it" when it came to taking on a battered England in the limited-overs tri-series finals.
The home side was whitewashed 2-0 in the best-of-three-match series and beaten in its last group phase encounter by 92 runs by an England side ravaged by injury and a lacking any confidence after a 5-0 drubbing in the Ashes.
England also suffered four defeats from five matches during the group phase of the tri-series, and was placed at long odds to even make the finals against Australia before beating New Zealand to get there, and turning its form around.
The defeats had Australia fans confused and angry yesterday, and many pundits at a loss to explain how Australia can go from so dominant to so bad in the space of 10 days.
But Lee appeared happy to explain the disaster.
"We weren't up for the two games," he admitted on Inside Cricket last night, moments after stating Australia had "definitely" been complacent against an England side it felt had no hope challenging for victory.
"We obviously had some great preparation leading into (the series), just on the day (we couldn't perform).
Lee revealed captain Ricky Ponting had seen the disaster looming at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as England chased a target of 253 for victory in the first final.
Andrew Flintoff's men had reined in what could have been a much bigger target with some good bowling late in the Australia innings, too.
"He called us into a bit of a huddle at Melbourne after the second drinks break and said if we didn't pull our fingers out, things would go downhill pretty quickly," Lee said.
England, who took the last four Australia wickets for as many runs at the MCG, was in trouble itself at 3-15, but Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell steered it clear of danger, Collingwood surviving to be 120 not out as the tourists won with three balls to spare.
"We haven't played our best cricket. We said that right from Melbourne," Lee continued.
"The way that we played during the Test matches, at any stage, we could always find a way to get ourselves out of a sticky type of situation. It just wasn't happening in the one-dayers."
Australia selects its World Cup squad today, with Lee likely to be the first bowler written on the teamsheet for the Caribbean trip next month.
"It's at the top of our Christmas list, to try and win the World Cup," he said, but appeared cautious in the wake of the embarrassing defeats to England.
"It just goes to show, if we aren't on song for one particular day or night, we could be out of the World Cup," Lee said.
"I think now we can put (the tri-series) behind us, and look forward to playing over in New Zealand and hopefully (winning) the World Cup, too."
- TOBY FORAGE