Given that Australia haven't won a series in England since 2001 and that England have won once in Australia since 1987, there does need to be a degree of realism as to how hard winning an Ashes series away from home is in the modern era. What is disappointing is that we really haven't given ourselves a chance with the selection decisions over the bowling unit and dropped catches / wickets from no balls in the field.
The biggest lesson to be learnt I think is from New Zealand who produce a great site on a fraction of the financial and playing resources of England. They make sure they get all of the basics right which really isn't the case with England as a red ball side