Tour star Nasser Hussain, one of the few players to emerge with his reputation enhanced from the 3-1 Ashes defeat, is convinced there is enough talent within the England party to look ahead with optimism.

"I wouldn't say it's been a success just because we did well in the last two Tests. People shouldn't be patting themselves on the back and going home saying well done just because we came back into it," he stressed.

"But this shouldn't be viewed like the end - the two Tests we have just played should be looked on as the beginning and take that as an example of how we should play all the time.

"We are now a strong side mentally because we know we can come back, we don't just roll over but we must take that to the next stage and compete first rather than just as a reaction.

"How we do that is by the basics because the same cricketers played well at the end of the series that we had at the beginning. The difference was just taking catches, getting first innings runs and putting pressure on."

Hussain, dejected after losing his second successive Ashes series, became more optimistic about the future after chatting with Australian batsman Mark Waugh, who he has played alongside for Essex, in the aftermath of yesterday's 98-run defeat at the SCG.

"I went into their dressing room last night and I was talking with Mark, who was saying that we weren't a bad side," explained Hussain. "

"He made the point that we have beaten South Africa and look what they are doing to the West Indies right now and admitted we had given them a bit of a scare in Australia.

"On that basis we have got a nucleus of a good side, the only thing we have got to work at is to start well at the beginning of a series and not leave it too late.

"Everything has been done right on this tour, we've worked hard in the nets and this side has to stay together because there are a lot of tough people in that dressing room now.

"If you saw the emotion on Dean Headley's face and the pride and effort he put in at Melbourne and the determination that Mark Ramprakash has put in and the way Alec Stewart has taken the side on, you would know we have some very good cricketers, we have some world class players and fierce competitors."

Hussain's consistent series, which enabled him to pass 1,000 runs against Australia in just 15 Ashes Tests, also achieved a personal goal for the Essex batsman - to prove his ability against the best side in the world in front of one of the toughest audiences.

"When I left England it meant a lot to me to do well out here because of people like Richie Benaud and Ian Chappell looking on," he stressed. "You do want to impress people out here because this is where the game is taken very seriously.

"This was always going to be the biggest test for me and I have really enjoyed everything about it. It's disappointing I have not got a big score but to be leading run scorer, average 45 in the series and field quite well is pleasing.

"I'm not one to normally blow my own trumpet but I always thought this was going to be a test of how far I've come to play against this lot and quietly I've given myself a pat on the back.

"There are a few things to work on still like getting back into the hundred mode and I'm not by any means a complete Test player - I'm averaging 38 and I'd like to get back up into the 40s."

Nasser Hussain - believes England's cricketers are destined for better times

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