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The tourists trail 2-1 going into the final Test but Warne, one of the few Australian players to impress this summer, believes the side are capable of retaining the Ashes providing they can rediscover their best form.

"It will take all of our experience and character to pull it around at The Oval," the spinner wrote in his column in The Times.

"We are simply not scoring enough runs in the first innings and we are probably conceding too many.

"Too many of our guys are under-performing. We all have a bad Test match now and again but it is unusual for our players to struggle for three or four on the trot.

"These are wonderful players with fantastic records. It will be a case of going back to basics and getting those right. I am backing them to come good."

He continued: "There is no disgrace in being outplayed as long as you have given it your best shot and every ounce of fight you have.

"But if we lose the Ashes without performing as well as we possibly can, then it would be very disappointing.

"We need to think in those blunt terms because we are getting down to the wire. Time is running out."

Meanwhile, Australia expect Glenn McGrath to return to their line-up for the fifth Test after missing the defeat at Trent Bridge with an elbow injury.

The veteran pace bowler is unlikely to feature in the two-day game against Essex at the weekend, but should be passed fit for the deciding match of the Test series.