Di Venuto defends Ashes preparation

Australia's batting coach has defended the Ashes tourists' training and preparation and said decision-making "in the heat of the moment" let the side down.

Australia crashed to the ignominy of 60 all-out on the first morning of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, left without answer to the swing and seam Stuart Broad extracted as he claimed a career-best 8-15. Bupa Support Team batting coach Michael Di Venuto has described watching the procession of batsmen to and from the dressing room as "surreal".

"There's no point hiding from it, we weren't good enough," Di Venuto said. "We were completely out-skilled, simple as that.

"The swinging and seaming ball we were completely unstuck as a batting unit, we certainly didn't practice that way or train that way, we were well prepared but just in the heat of the moment and the heat of the battle we weren't good enough.

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"There was a lot of decisions that batters wouldn't have liked to make that they made at the time and I'm sure the batting crew would like to do a few things differently.

"I can't control what goes on out on the field, so as long as in their preparation they've done everything to get themselves ready so they're ready for success then I'm happy with that.

"It was tough to watch and it was almost surreal."

Watch ... if you dare: 60 all out (restrictions apply)

That innings lasted just 18.3 overs. When it was done, so were Australia's Ashes hopes. On the same pitch England had reached 4-274 by stumps on the first day, and completed their rout to win by an innings and 78 runs early on the third morning.

"It was unique conditions, I think in that first hour in particular at Trent Bridge," said Di Venuto. "But in saying that we've got to be better than what we were.

"There wasn't enough time to talk to the next batsman, they were too busy getting their pads on trying to get out there.

"All I can do is get the guys ready to play and basically drop them off at the gate when they go out to bat."

Di Venuto is back home in Tasmania, working with the state's under-17 team ahead of the National U17 Championships in Brisbane later this month. Working with the future will be a familiar theme for him for the next few months.

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The Ashes saw the retirements of batsmen Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers, allrounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, plus fast bowler Ryan Harris. Including the thumb injury to David Warner that will keep him sidelined, the Australian XI for the two-Test tour of Bangladesh will have a vastly different look.

"It'll be interesting to see how the new faces go," Di Venuto said. "There was some very good performances that came out of the recent Australia A series in India so I dare say a lot of those guys might get an opportunity in the upcoming Bangladesh series.

"It's an exciting time for Australian cricket where there is going to be a lot of change and a lot of new faces and there's only very much an upside to where we're going to go."