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England’s summer of cricket should be considered a success despite the one-day international series loss to Australia, says captain Eoin Morgan.
It gave world champions England their first loss in a one-day series at home since 2015 and provided the only blemish in a summer in which they have beaten the West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland in different formats.
All of England’s games have come to pass despite the Covid-19 pandemic, with matches staged in biosecurity bubbles in Manchester and at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
“At the forefront of thinking before throwing a ball was everyone’s well-being and that has continued,” Morgan told Test Match Special.
“It has been an incredible summer and it has been great to have our full quota of matches.
“The guys have come and gone from the bubble and the way (CEO) Tom Harrison and (cricket director) Ashley Giles have led things from the ECB’s perspective has been outstanding.
“If there was another summer of a biosecurity bubble we would probably have to look at the guys spending more time outside of it or the families who might get in.”
Players have lived on both terrains, which has meant a long time away from his family – fast pitcher Jofra Archer, for example, has spent 86 days on the biobubble, longer than any other player.
Australian batsman Alex Carey, who made his first century ODI in a three-wicket win on Wednesday, praised the handling of the biosecure environment by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
“I think if it brings smiles to the people watching at home, then we are willing to play,” Carey said.
“We love to play and we are very grateful for the opportunity we had.
“We will go our separate ways now, but I look forward to the next time we come here.”
There is still men’s and women’s domestic cricket to come, and England’s women’s international summer kicks off on Monday with a five-game T20 series against the West Indies.
‘We could have taken a chance on other days’
England rallied 2-0 on the final international day of the summer to place 302-7, with Jonny Bairstow scoring 112.
The hosts appeared to be on top when Australia fell to 73-5, but Carey and Glenn Maxwell produced an amazing partnership to drag tourists back into the fray.
Maxwell scored 108 of 90 balls and Carey 106 in a partnership-record 212 runs to push Australia in the face of victory.
England were unusually sloppy on the field, and could have fired Carey for nine if Archer hadn’t gone overboard by catching him at the third man.
“If we were on top of our game, we could have taken those opportunities. It’s always disappointing when you don’t,” Morgan said.
“When we look back, it will be something we can improve on.
“I thought we were right in the game. Since Australia has had trouble chasing recently, I thought we had a chance.”
Australia had collapsed in the previous ODI, ultimately losing by 24 runs, but Maxwell and Carey held firm.
“We thought we were in trouble, absolutely,” Australia captain Aaron Finch said.
“Maxi is on the team to play a specific role, to try to build on the momentum.
“I don’t think there are many bowlers in the world who can be with him when he’s having one of those days.”
