When it was needed that he be a leader and display courage, Nasser Hussain was found wanting.

It was the same old predictable boring England.

Sending the opposition in is a gamble.

When you don't have the bowlers to do any damage, it's akin to suicide.

England will now be lucky to follow-on. If they avoid it or it is not enforced, they will have an impossible target to chase.

The tone of an Ashes series is set on the first day of the first Test.

In 1986, Australia sent England in at the Gabba for them to finish the first day at 2/198. They would make 456, enforce the follow-on and win by seven wickets.

In 1989, David Gower sent Australia in. Australia made it to the first day at 3/207 and would won the Test by 210 runs.

In 1994, Michael Slater hit the first ball of the series from Phil DeFreitas for four. It was that kind of series.

Hussain had to be positive. Get some runs on the board and at least put Australia in a position where they didn't feel 100% in control.

Now he has placed his side in a huge hole which will require some great batting and the old rain dance for them to extricate themselves.

Electing to bat first would have shown that England would not be lying down. Instead, they took the easy way out and are paying for it.

For all the talk, their fielding is still basic. The bowlers aren't bowling to their fields. Too many balls are being bowled without a shot being played and if a false stroke is made, the defensive field placings means that it can't be capitalised on.

Hussain has sent out a message loud and clear - that his side fear Australia. Obviously oblivious to the fact that it's the exploitation of the opposition's fear which is one of the major reasons for Australia's success.

The hero of the Mexican revolution, Emiliano Zapata once said, "It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees".

England are dying on their knees.

© David Wiseman

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.