England’s summer ended in disappointing fashion as Australia claimed victory in a rain-affected ODI series decider in Bristol. Here, the PA news agency takes stock of the past fortnight and looks ahead to England’s next assignment in the Caribbean, beginning at the end of the month. A 3-2 defeat should be put into context.
How raw England were ahead of this series was underlined by Adil Rashid being the squad’s leading ODI run-scorer, despite occasionally being a number 11 batter. In contrast, world champions Australia were close to full strength. Plenty of sides would have buckled at 2-0 down but England showed plenty of character to draw level before running out of steam.
Losing to Australia is always a tough pill to swallow but but the wins at Chester-le-Street and especially at Lord’s demonstrate this young and inexperienced England side might be on to something. A clumsy “who cares?” remark when speaking about modes of dismissal left Harry Brook in the firing line after his England captaincy debut at Trent Bridge but he led by deed not word thereafter. A maiden ODI century in Durham – after which he explained his comments had been misinterpreted – got England in the win column and his 312 runs is the most by a captain in an ODI series against Australia.
Ben Duckett also registered two fifties and a hundred to make a compelling case that he should open at next year’s Champions Trophy, while quicks Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse burnished their reputation.
