The defeat was confirmed in predictable fashion, when Chris Woakes edged a vicious, short ball from Pat Cummins to wicketkeeper Tim Paine at just after 3.40pm, with England 281 all out.

It gave the home side a thumping margin of victory and an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two Tests to come in Melbourne and Sydney.

Defeat also completed a miserable first Ashes for captain Joe Root who has been outmanoeuvred and outplayed by his counterpart Steve Smith.

And it is a series defeat which raised some question marks over the short term and long term futures of a number of England’s players.

For some this has looked a tour too far with Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad a shadow of their former selves.

For others the experience seems to have dimmed undoubted talent with all-rounder Moeen Ali flopping with bat and ball and captain Joe Root performing well below his best. 

The final day of the final Ashes Test at the WACA had started in controversial circumstances after torrential overnight rain here in Perth had seeped under the covers creating a damp patch on the wicket.

Ground staff worked furiously to dry the patch to the satisfaction of the officials, using leaf blowers, but the cock-up caused a delay of three hours to the start and the loss of 28 overs on the day.

If it gave England hope it was to prove nowhere near enough though against an equally furious Australian attack, even one in which Mitchell Starc was suffering with a right heel bruise.

In all they kept them out for 34.3 overs.

With England trailing Australia by 127 overnight and with just six wickets standing between the home side and the Ashes, much rested on the shoulders of first innings centurions Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow.

But their defensive rearguard got off to the worst possible start when Bairstow (14) fell to his first ball of the morning, a ripper from Josh Hazlewood which kept low and levelled his off stump.

Malan and Moeen Ali stood firm against a brilliant spell from the tall Australian, adding 39 for the sixth wicket but the latter’s miserable series, and particular his miserable series against Nathan Lyon, continued when he offered a blocking pad to a straight one from the off-spinner to leave England six down.

Australia have been ruthless throughout this series when getting sight of the tail and when Malan’s vigil finished, pulling slightly recklessly at a short pitched delivery from Hazlewood, which gloved through to the wicketkeeper Tim Paine to leave England 196-7 the writing was on the wall.

Hazlewood was to finish with 5-48.

Chris Woakes provided some spirited resistance with 22, but ran out of partners as Australia circled.

Craig Overton (12) came out with heavy padding and protection around his cracked rib but looked uncomfortable throughout before edging to gully.

Broad (0), another to have a miserable tour so far, fended a short ball behind. Woakes and Jimmy Anderson held off the inevitable for 27 balls.