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 for five 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 remaining.

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.

Australia captain Aaron Finch was visibly relieved to sign off from the tour in celebratory fashion after seeing the game ebb and flow as both sides wrestled for the result.

In the end it needed career-best efforts from both Carey and Maxwell, who clubbed seven sixes, to seal it.

“We were in trouble, England had all the momentum at 73 for five but that Maxi partnership with Alex was fantastic,” he said.

“Maxi is in the team to do a specific role, he’s able to take the game away from opponents when you’re having a good day but also to counter-attack and try and swing momentum in changing rooms.

“I don’t think there are many bowlers around the world that can trouble him when he’s having one of those sort of days.”