Ashes 2015: Alastair Cook admits performance was unacceptable

England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side's performance was 'not acceptable' as Australia won the second Ashes Test by 405 runs to level the series at 1-1.

Chasing a total of 509, England were ripped apart by the visitors' bowling attacking on day four (19 July) at Lord's in just 37 overs – eventually finishing all out for 103.

The defeat is a hammer blow for the hosts, who had been in a buoyant mood after winning the open test in Cardiff, and Cook confessed his team's showing was simply not good enough.

"It is not a good performance over the last four days. Full credit to Australia, from the first morning they got on top of us and never let us back in the game," said Cook.

"Today [Sunday] was for them the icing on the cake and for us it was a real kick in the teeth. To get bowled out on that kind of wicket for 100 is not good enough and not acceptable, and not up to the standard the guys can play."

The loss raises more questions about England's top order, with the likes of Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance and Ian Bell all struggling for runs.

There have been calls for selectors to make changes and Cook admits that there will need to be discussions on the matter ahead of the third test at Edgbaston.

"It is a good question [on whether we change the top order]. Certainly over the last three or four months we have found ourselves too often 30 for four or 40 for three," Cook added.

"You know that's not ideal in any circumstance in any team. You know how big runs at the top of the order, you saw how Australia did it, sets up the game for you. It is certainly something we will have to look at over the next couple of days."

One of the key talking points from the first test in Cardiff was the state of the pitch, which was deemed not fast enough by the Australians.

However, in contrast, the surface at Lord's seemed to rejuvenate the Aussie attack and in particular the talismanic Mitchell Johnson.

Cook admits it wasn't a very 'English' wicket, but despite that the captain feels his side cannot use the pitch as an excuse for their display.

"It certainly wasn't prepared to my [taste] as everyone seems to be writing and talking about," said Cook.

"Anyone knows the MCC don't give too much control over that. But we want to play on English wickets and that wasn't too English. But that is nowhere near an excuse, we have been totally outplayed in four days. It is down to the side to play the cricket on whatever the surface you play on."