Unlike past Aussie teams, England have lost sight of the ultimate goal, winning, Richard Hinds writes WINNERS, traditionally, are grinners. In the case of the triumphant England, they are also snarlers, scowlers, smirkers and posers. For some Australia's great players from the nineties and noughties, it must be like looking in a mirror. A team of talent and sometimes ruthless efficiency which never confuses a Test with a vicar's tea party. However, as the final Test revealed, there is one significant difference between the outlook of this accomplished England team and the even more dominant Australians of the now distant past. Have England lost that winning feeling? With lips curled, McGrath, Warne, the Waughs, Hayden et al were bent on humiliating their opponents. But they never lost sight of the ultimate goal. They played, by means both fair and foul-mouthed, to win. England, on the other hand, chose to celebrate their Ashes threepeat by grinding the Australians into the unforgiving Oval pitch and consigning the Test to a mindnumbing stalemate. From the moment Alastair Cook lost the toss, their singular and bloody-minded ambition was to not let Australia win. A hard, dry pitch, and the rain which washed out play on the fourth day, made that a formality. But, before England played its meteorological wild card, cynical time wasting and laborious batting meant there was more chance of Pippa Middleton streaking during the tea break than of either team forcing a win. Even from the sometimes fawning local media, there was sharp criticism of England's tactics. And, as the home team blocked and pushed, seldom has a Test match provided a more ringing endorsement of Twenty20. But opinion was divided on England's motivation. Some rightly noted that, holding a 3-0 lead, England was fully entitled to ensure Australia took no consolation from a late victory, and gained no momentum with the return bout just three month away. Making Australia labour in futility, they reasoned, was the work of ruthless bully boys. You don't get anything for nothing from us. But, just as pertinent, was the suggestion England was clinging desperately to its ascendency. That it lacked the confidence to back up the words of Cook, who boasted before The Oval Test he would aggressively pursue an historic 4-0 home victory. Steve Waugh's Australians were intent on proving they were filet mignon to everyone else's hamburger mince. By refusing to come out of its shell at The Oval, England seemed to concede the gap between them and Australia was less significant than the 3-0 scoreline suggested. Their meek play gave credence to those who believe that narrow victories at Trent Bridge and Chester-le-Streeet, and escape-by-rain at Old Trafford, had flattered England. Something that should, in turn, increase Australia's confidence ahead of the next series. England's go-slow created inevitable tension between the teams. Most notably, an on-field debate between Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke about who was more unpopular with their teammates. Darren Lehmann's expensive attempt to incite Australian crowds to give Stuart Broad a tough time - as if that was needed - was another sign of Australia's emboldened approach. Not the attitude you might normally expect from a team nearing the end of a disastrous campaign. Of course, whether this was mere bravado from a badly beaten team with nothing to lose remains to be seen. Three months, partly wasted by limited overs series here and an in India, gives Australia little time to get their house in order. But progress has been made. At least four positions in the top five of the batting order - Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Stephen Smith - have been filled by good performances, not picked out of a hat. Only David Warner needs to reapply for his job. The pace bowling of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle has been lion hearted and, if James Pattinson is fit, the attack also seems settled. Nathan Lyon has grown in confidence, even if luck continues to elude him. Australia have a handle on some of the England batsmen, too. Bowling full to Cook and short to Jonathan Trott are just two noteworthy, and successful, tactics. England deserve the spoils, the accolades and the celebrations. But you can't help feeling Cook's men lacked the self belief to kick the tourists when they were down. Something they might regret if they get back on their feet this summer.