Seven-wicket defeat stuns England as they head for Champions opener

● Mixed messages over Bairstow call

England’s chastening seven– wicket defeat against South Africa leaves them with questions to answer, and captain Eoin Morgan hoping confidence is intact for the start of the Champions Trophy.

Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss delivered mixed messages on the possible inclusion of Jonny Bairstow against Bangladesh on Thursday.

The Yorkshireman again took advantage of a rare opportunity with his third half-century in four one–day international innings to help England’s partial recovery from their collapse to 20 for six in the first five overs of the third and final Royal London Series match.

Bairstow’s contribution of 51 was unable to sustain a telling fightback at Lord’s – where Kagiso Rabada (four for 39) and Wayne Parnell (three for 43) did all the early damage.

England were bowled out for 153 before South Africa eased to victory to reduce their series defeat to 2–1.

While the tourists can, therefore, draw some confidence before they begin their campaign in the global tournament, Morgan must try to ensure the experience does not dent his team’s morale.

“I’d like to think it doesn’t,” he said. “Obviously what cost us was that first hour – a lot of live, green grass on the wicket, but, ultimately, I thought South Africa bowled beautifully.

0 Kagiso Rabada took four for 39 as South Africa bowled out England for 153 at Lord’s yesterday. They didn’t give us anything to hit, and, if they did, we managed to nick it.

“A lot of credit goes to South Africa. I thought they came back really well [after two defeats].”

Bayliss delivered a similar assessment in his television interview. “We’ve played some pretty good cricket in this series, but I think this performance ensures we go into the Champions Trophy without big heads.”

Coach and captain diverged, however, on Bairstow’s Champions Trophy credentials – both praising the batsman but Bayliss pondering whether his latest innings may yet bring a last-minute recall at the expense of out-of-form opener Jason Roy, while Morgan remains insistent that is highly unlikely.

Bayliss said of Bairstow: “He’s doing everything he possibly can do. He’s putting a lot of pressure on, and that’s what we want. It’ll be an interesting selection meeting.” Morgan was “very impressed” with Bairstow, and added: “He never lets us down. Every time he comes in, he scores runs, and he continues to bang on the door.

“It’s the hardest thing telling Jonny he’s not playing and he’s done nothing wrong.”

The captain is not anticipating a late change in personnel for The Oval, though, saying: “As regards selection, Jason is our No 1 pick at the moment. He and (Alex) Hales have been very important to the way we’ ve played as a team for quite a long time.”

Morgan had little time to play his shots in the middle on his home ground, but did so off the pitch about the green surface on which England struggled under cloudy skies after being put in.

“I don’t think it was a one-day international wicket,” he said, adding he hopes England will not face similar conditions around the country over the next three weeks.

“I’d be disappointed if we did, because any team (would have) the potential to win or lose a game on a toss in a major tournament – which is hard to take and makes it one-sided, which I don’t think is good for anybody.

“Lord’s has never been a prolific ground for us batting– wise anyway, and the grounds we’re playing at (in the Champions Trophy) we have had good success in the past.

“So it’s quite easy in that regard to wipe a line under it.”

Morgan is reassured too that Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali – all rested as injury precautions here – will all be back to face Bangladesh.

“We’re very confident,” he said. “Moeen has pulled up really well; Ben could have played, but it was another day off his feet, and the two bowlers that missed out could have played but it would have meant they were fatigued again, and we didn’t want that going into Thursday’s game.”

South Africa coach Russell Domingo is hoping David Miller and Imran Tahir’s injurieswill also clear up in time for his team’s first match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

“We’re pretty happy with the way things have panned out for us,” said Domingo.