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Cardiff - England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan said he
was "excited" by his team's progress in 50-over cricket despite a
season-ending four-wicket loss to Pakistan in Cardiff on Sunday.
That defeat meant England had to be content with a 4-1
one-day international series win rather than a first home 5-0 whitewash.
It also denied Morgan's men, who back in June tied an ODI
with Sri Lanka in Nottingham before winning that series, a maiden unbeaten
season in white-ball cricket ahead of Wednesday's lone Twenty20 against
Pakistan in Manchester.
England may still be fifth in the International Cricket
Council ODI rankings but they have made significant progress since their
embarrassing first-round exit at last year's World Cup in Australia and New
Zealand.
And with England staging both the 2017 Champions Trophy and
the 2019 World Cup, it is no longer fanciful to think they could win their
first major international 50-over trophy within the next few years.
"We've been outstanding," said Morgan. "Every
game throughout the series, we've come out with a hunger and determination to
perform at our best."
England fell short of what they wanted in making 302 for
nine in Cardiff, with opener Jason Roy top-scoring with 87 and all-rounder Ben
Stokes contributing an ODI-best 75.
But they were on course for a whitewash when Pakistan lost
two wickets in one Mark Wood over to be 77 for three.
However, a record fourth-wicket partnership of 163 between wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed (90) and Shoaib Malik (77) turned the match Pakistan's way.
Morgan, though, remained heartened by England's commitment
to an aggressive approach in ODI cricket since their World Cup debacle.
"I think it's exciting," he said.
"The attitude and hunger to want to be better playing
in that manner, I think, sums up the direction one-day international cricket is
going and the talent we have."
But with world number one-ranked Australia also completing a
4-1 series victory away to Sri Lanka on Sunday, Morgan denied England - beaten
on home soil in the 2013 final by India at Edgbaston - were favourites for next
year's Champions Trophy.
"Australia are playing some really strong cricket...
South Africa, India as well," said the Irishman.
"I know the last Champions Trophy we played (here), the
pitches were a bit drier than we thought, and brought in sub-continent teams.
"I don't think, this far out, you can label anybody as
favourites."
Man-of-the-match Ahmed, who also scored Pakistan's first ODI
hundred at Lord's in the second match, was the leading overall run-scorer in
the series with exactly 300 at an average of 60.
"The way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour he's been
exceptional," said Pakistan one-day captain Azhar Ali following a
much-needed win.
"He's been positive and scoring good runs at number five,
so we've got some good performances but we just need to bind it together."
Nevertheless, Pakistan remain ninth in the ODI rankings,
with the 1992 champions in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for
the 2019 World Cup.
Azhar has often been compared unfavourably to celebrated
Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who has led Pakistan to the top of the ICC
standings in the five-day game.
But Azhar responded to suggestions he might resign the
captaincy by indicating he intended to carry on as skipper.
"I got a few 80s (against England) so that will really
help my confidence. Leading by example is very important. I will try and keep
that form in the coming series. That will help the team."
He added: "It's a very happy camp right now - because
it has been a very tough tour for us in ODIs, and getting a victory at the end
and finishing on a high is really good.
"A few guys we have seen on this tour have really stepped up - they are young guys, and if they can play good consistent cricket we are looking at a bright future."
