We've lost two close Tests because they are slightly better than us. They have a more solid batting line up including the world's best batsman and a pace attack that is of high quality and has variation too. The loss of Lyon will be felt, but unlike us, they have a genuine replacement rather than part-timers or kids that could get mentally destroyed by a ruthless side.
We have enough to compete, but not enough to compete consistently. A lot of focus has been on the Bairstow incident, but a bigger issue at Lords was team selection. Not that we didn't play a spinner, but that we played a bowling line up that left us with a long tail for no apparent gain with the ball. Anderson, Broad and Robinson are all the same. If we wanted that type of bowler, then swap one of the 3 for Woakes and then you at least have someone who can bat at 8, which MAY have allowed Stokes to take the chase deeper.
And my final comment on the Bairstow situation, nothing is going to convince me that it was as awful as some are suggesting. Carey caught and threw in one motion. It wasn't a calculated 'trick'. All Bairstow needed to do was duck. Step back. Ground his bat and wait for the call of 'over'. The idea that you can just duck, pop your foot down in a relatively subtle manner and then wander down the crease is ridiculous. If a spinner was bowling and a batter was in his crease, but left the ball, the batter wouldn't set off walking the moment it hit the keepers gloves. It's really no different.