Hussain says Cook's biggest challenge will be 'to come out of Ashes slump'

Leading England out of their Ashes slump will be the biggest challenge of captain Alastair Cook's career, according to former skipper Nasser Hussain, a report said.

According to Sport24, after three series successes, England relinquished their grip on the urn on Tuesday when Australia recorded a third consecutive Test victory in Perth to establish an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

With Tests in Melbourne and Sydney still to come, England are at risk of a humiliating series whitewash, and Hussain wants Cook to stand up and be counted, the report said.

Another former England captain, Michael Atherton, has urged Cook to view the situation as a chance to rebuild the team that he inherited from predecessor Andrew Strauss, the report added.

England's batsmen have struggled in Australia, with 22-year-old newcomer Ben Stokes the only player to have scored a century for the tourists after reaching 120 in England's second innings in Perth, the report further said.

England great Ian Botham laid the blame for England's failure squarely at the feet of their batsmen, the report mentioned.

Former England batsman Geoff Boycott was typically outspoken in his criticism, declaring that Cook's men had 'cocked it up big time', according to the report.