The Australian media are reflecting on a disappointing weekend of sport after their national rugby and cricket teams both failed in their hunt for silverware.
The Wallabies will spend a seventh straight year without the Bledisloe Cup following Saturday night's one-point loss to the All Blacks, while the Australian cricket team surrendered their beloved Ashes urn this morning (NZT) after getting towelled up by England in the fifth and final test.
"Australia die a slow Ashes death as Poms celebrate" cried Sydney's Daily Telegraph in response to Australia's 197-run defeat at The Oval.
"Ricky Ponting's Ashes career has ended in heartache as he became the first Australian skipper in over a century to lose two series in England," wrote Ben Dorries.
"The Ashes are gone. So is Australia's No 1 Test ranking and its 14-year hold on world dominance."
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Jamie Pandaram struggled to believe Australia lost to the same English side they humiliated in the fourth test in Leeds.

"The shadows will now creep over Australia's selectors, coaches and players," he said.

"Ricky Ponting's side has now lost three of its past four series, but this one will hurt most.
"How England were allowed to come back into the series following their innings and 80-run loss at Headingley is difficult to fathom."

And while the Wallabies' defeat received less coverage than their cricketing cousins, they were not spared their share of criticism.
"The All Blacks must laugh at how dumb the Wallabies are at times," wrote Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald, who called for mass changes following Australia's fifth consecutive loss to the All Blacks.
"Watch the last 10 minutes of Saturday night's patchy test match and you will soon be shaking your head.
"Yet again, the Wallabies were their own worst enemies by being brain dead when clear thinking was imperative."
And the Telegraph's lead rugby story summed up the Wallabies' woes with a simple equation: "No killer instinct = No silverware".
"There were clear signs of improvement for the Wallabies in their one-point defeat but so confoundingly slow is the side's overall progress, Deans even described his team as 'creeping moss'," wrote Iain Payten.
"Deans often talks about effecting lasting change for the Wallabies but it seems even he has joined the frustrated fans who can't see if it is a week away, a month away or a year away."


One of the best articles I have ever read The highligts I have bolded

We could always follow squash.

You've always got Aussie Rules, you'll always be the best at that

bad couple of days of sport for me

dragons lost.....bombers lost......wallabies lost.... lost the ashes....steelers lost....and lost my footy match.......

What astounds me is that Ponting gets blamed for the loss, sure he's the captain but he can't do everything by himself

People have been blaming Ponting for Global Warming since 05. Nothing new.

Even your PM is supporting the All Blacks these days. 3 wins in 17 games against the ABs isn't enough to keep him loyal

Rudd's a douchebag anyway. Fact.

I would care, but these two sports suck so i dont.

Lawn bowls is where its at.

Cricket and Union are two of the best. Only rugby league comes close.

I'll stick to motorsports (except V8s) and squash ...

ive had a cracker of a weekend sportwise

broncos, lions, arsenal and england all won, brisbane roar drew
the wallabies losing is the only blemish...idiots! DROP A FUCKING GOAL!

couldn't care less. Womens Discuss is where it's at.

I'm lovin all these aussie having the biggest sooks about losing the Ashes, its classic.

agree fuzz - its the same ones who would get up anyone else having a sook about losing too

Too bad the Boomers beat the Kiwis in the Basketball that weekend

Been Thru worse Aussie Sporting weekends it'll right itself . It is in the Top 10 Bad Aussie Weekends Surely without thinking to hard about it