The opener, who watched his team clamber to a low score of 228 in which no batsman passed his score of 63, had no pretensions of a good team batting performance.
'It was a bit of a Groundhog Day, to be honest,' he sighed. 'We didn't get enough runs on the board. The top six batters didn't bat well enough again.'
England perked up a bit with the ball - especially part-time bowler Luke Wright, who took 1-16 at little more than three an over - but were very poor in the field, failing to cut off quick singles, misfielding regularly and at one point dropping a crucial catch (Tim Bresnan shelling centurion Cameron White).
'We created some chances, but didn't take all of them,' Strauss confessed.
'Defending 230 is always difficult on a flat wicket.'
Strauss did, however, stick up for his underperforming top- and middle-order, who have come under some criticism this summer for failing to put runs on the board.
'It's just a confidence thing,' he said. 'The guys in that top six have earned the right to play for England.'
Nevertheless, some chopping and changing is likely if England are to get back in this series. The hosts need to win all of the remaining four fixtures to claim the one-day series trophy, as they find themselves 3-0 down after consecutive defeats.
Opposing captain Michael Clarke was, unsurprisingly, a happier man after his side's performance, and equally happy to hand the captaincy back to Ricky Ponting, who returns for the next game.
'He can have it,' joked Clarke. 'I need a good night's sleep.'
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