Outgoing captain Michael Clarke made a plea for patience after Australia ceded the urn in embarrassing circumstances.

Clarke’s men suffered an innings and 78-run defeat in the fourth Ashes Test early on day three.

They resumed 90 runs behind at 7-241 on Saturday, when Clarke revealed he would retire.

It was only a matter of time at Trent Bridge before the hosts took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-Test series and reclaimed the urn.

The tail delayed the inevitable for 39 minutes and 10.2 overs before Nathan Lyon played on to Mark Wood.

The uprooted off stump triggered wild celebrations from a side thumped 5-0 during the 2013-14 series in Australia.

“We’ve been beaten by a better team … we were outplayed in this series,” Clarke said.

There will be no shortage of soul searching in the squad of 17 at what looks to be a time of transition.

Ryan Harris and Clarke have already retired, while Chris Rogers plans on doing the same.

Brad Haddin and Shane Watson were dropped during the series and based on their age will struggle to break back into the Test XI.

“We need to be patient, there’s no doubt about it. Especially if we lose a few guys in one go,” Clarke said.

“It’s going to take some time.

“It’s going to take some hard work and the media in particular (need) to keep the faith.

“We need to give players a good opportunity, not write them off when we see one or two bad performances.

“Believe in them and stick with them, especially through the tough times.”

Thursday was one of the toughest in Clarke’s career.

There was only one result possible in the fourth Test after Australia were skittled for 60 in 18.3 overs on day one, when man of the match Stuart Broad recorded unprecedented figures of 8-15.

“I wanted to bat first, but it turned out a good toss to win and the catching was spectacular,” Broad said.

England skipper Alastair Cook described the victory as an “unbelievable moment”.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

“From what we’ve been through as a side over the last 18 months, to play like we’ve played … it’s incredible.

“I’m just so proud of this team.”

Ben Stokes rightly pocketed a stump before England’s lap of honour, having dismissed Mitchell Starc in the morning to register career-best figures of 6-36.

Adam Voges finished 51 not out, one of few positives in what was a miserable match for the tourists.

The shambolic defeat, which follows a similarly one-sided game at Edgbaston last week, will have major ramifications.

Much had been made of the topsy-turvy nature of the series, but the narrative was guided by a handful of woeful collapses.

Australia’s 405-run win in the second Test at Lord’s, in which Steve Smith scored his maiden double-century, was the anomaly.

Brutal bursts of seam and swing from Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Steve Finn exposed Australia’s batsmen in Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham.

AUSTRALIA’S ASHES COLLAPSES:

* 1st Test, Cardiff: 5-25, 6-50 leading to 169-run loss

* 3rd Test, Edgbaston: 5-60, 4-30 leading to eight-wicket loss

* 4th Test, Trent Bridge: 7-29, 4-23 leading to innings and 78-run loss.