Knight admits England are hurting after ODI loss

England must have some "honest conversations" after a disastrous start to their Ashes campaign, captain Heather Knight believes, but it’s the bigger picture that has their greatest ever run scorer Charlotte Edwards concerned.

The hosts are staring down the barrel just three games into the multi-format, points-based series, already down 6-0 and needing to win each of their remaining matches – a Test and three T20Is – if they are to regain the Ashes.

After two- and four-wicket ODI defeats in Leicester to begin the series, a shocking collapse in Sunday’s third one-dayer saw England bowled out for 75 as a rampant Ellyse Perry claimed 7-22.

"Individually and as a team we need to have some honest conversations and work out what has gone wrong for us," Knight said on Sunday. "But we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"It hurts a lot but we have to turn this around very quickly and we believe we have the skill and character to turn it around."

But for former captain Edwards, Australia’s dominant start to the Ashes against No.2 ranked England is a reflection of the disparity between the strength of the countries’ respective domestic competitions.

In addition to their 15 nationally contracted, full-time professional international players, Australia's domestic cricketers have achieved semi-professional status across the last two summers through both the 50-over WNCL and the WBBL.

In contrast, England have 22 contracted players but no solid professional domestic structure to support the national team. The 20-over Super League, the UK's answer to the WBBL, provides contracts for its seven-week season, but the same doesn't apply to the County Championship.

"I just think the domestic structure doesn’t prepare these players to play international cricket," Edwards said on Sky Sports broadcast of the third ODI. "There’s 35 counties, the talent’s diluted across those, I was involved with Hampshire in Division One this year, but if the England players don’t play in it, it’s not in any way preparing players to play at this level. 

"You’re certainly not getting bowling like this, which is targeting your pads every ball, challenging your technique every ball.

"On the flip side, the Australians play in the WNCL where all their players are professional virtually, their domestic structure prepares them to play international cricket and that’s because they’ve invested five years ago in a domestic structure and now they’re reaping the rewards of that."

Speaking about Australia’s domestic system on Sunday, Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry pointed to the depth it had created.

"I think certainly one of the big advantages we have at the moment - and one of our real strengths - is the depth in Australian cricket," Perry said. "If you look at the Australia A side that is over here at the moment, there's a number of those players who could easily step into this team, and have done at times. 

"I think that's really nice and a big reflection of professionalism in the game back home. But having said that, the two sides here today, both's best XI are on par with each other.

"There is a lot left in England and I think we are still very wary of them."

England’s domestic structure is set to be addressed next year through a radical shake-up of the current county system.

While currently there are 35 counties, next year will see a streamlined competition introduced for between 8-10 ‘professional’ counties, with the remaining counties relegated to feeder status – paving the way towards increased pay and professionalism, and a stronger top-tier competition.

"As coach, we want to play the better teams more often," England coach Mark Robinson said following Sunday’s match. "We don’t want to play soft cricket. We do have a challenge with our structure at the moment - getting people a game, never mind a good game, so that’s a problem. 

"But the plans are afoot. There’s a reorganisation which is causing controversy in its own right, but however it’s done … we need our best players playing the best players. 

"We need harder games of cricket, we need to be tested more."

But in the immediate future, Robinson’s mind is on his current group of England players, who face the challenge of pushing aside their disappointment at how the 50-over leg of the Ashes has played out and regroup in time for next week’s one-off Test.

Rather than immediately delving into detailed reviews, Robinson said his players would be given "space" before turning their attention to a three-day warm-up game against Australia A beginning on Friday.

"We’ve got to get a bit of calmness, take stock and get a bit of space, that’s the first thing," Robinson said. 

"Today hurts more - it’s your pride, you feel a bit humiliated, a lot of players will be upset."

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia lead England 6-0

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt 

July 2: Australia won by two wickets

July 4: Australia won by four wickets

July 7:  Australia won by 194 runs

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins