We’ve learned a lot from our series this summer - Morgan

CAPTAIN Eoin Morgan refused to be downcast after England ended their international summer with a rare one-day series defeat at the hands of rivals Australia, insisting the intensity of the battle will stand his side in good stead.

With the series level at 1-1 after two close finishes, England were primed to close out the decider having reduced their opponents to 73-5 chasing 303.

But a pair of magnificent centuries, 106 for Alex Carey and 108 for the buccaneering Glenn Maxwell, turned the tables as the tourists sealed a three-wicket success with just two balls left.

It was the world champions’ first one-day defeat on home soil since 2015 and the first anywhere since a trip to India in 2017.

Morgan has become accustomed to being on the right side of things in the 50-over format but felt a setback on challenging wickets at Emirates Old Trafford was a more instructive experience than walkovers on perfect batting tracks.

“I think sometimes when you have wins like that you can take performances for granted but given the kind of tight contests we’ve had with Australia in both the T20s and the ODIs, we have learned a huge amount,” he said.

“The positive of the series is knowing we can win games of cricket when we don’t play our best game. I know we’ve not played our best but the character and resilience we’ve showed has been brilliant.

“We’ve also learned quite a lot about the group playing on slower wickets.”