Lyon’s roar spot on

NATHAN Lyon was ridiculed for saying this Ashes series may end careers, but he might prove to be Nostradamus.

England was last night on its knees at the WACA Ground, with the long-term futures of Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson further cast into doubt.

Lyon dismissed Joe Root with his first ball to leave the skipper with plenty to digest on the effect the captaincy is having on his batting.

English cricket appears at a crossroads. And if Australia can execute a second Ashes whitewash in as many tours Down Under, it would be a damning indictment on the ECB system and culture.

Former captain Michael Vaughan says it’s time England started planning for the future and what its next Ashes tour might look like in four years’ time. Cook has looked a shadow of his former self in his 150th Test match.

An average of 13 this series and a highest score of 37 from his past 10 Test innings is becoming a serious worry for a side desperate for a good start.

The drums are beating even louder for Broad — the fallen Ashes pantomime villain who appears all but out of steam.

Broad finished with 0-142 — the equal-12th worst performance by a fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.

Anderson finished with four wickets, but, like in Adelaide, it was too little too late by the time he found his mark.

Josh Hazlewood heaped further pressure on Cook (14), with a blinding caught-andbowled grab where he pulled in a return drive low to his right as he dived after his followthrough.