Tim Paine led Australian side is one more defeat away from what would be just their second 0-5 series defeat ever, and their second in less than two years, after the hosts cruised to a six-wicket win in Durham on Thursday. Australia lost all five matches on their tour of South Africa in late 2016, which was just their fourth winless ODI series ever and the first where they had lost all five matches.
England are warm favourites to complete a sweep of their own at Old Trafford on Sunday. However, Eoin Morgan says the prospect of their first 5-0 series whitewash over a major nation is not a motivating factor heading into Sunday’s fifth and final ODI.
“I think 5-0 doesn’t really make a difference in the grand scheme of things,” he said. “It’s another opportunity to put in a really strong performance.
“I think Manchester will be completely different conditions to any of the grounds that we’ve played at, but I think we’re in a really good position to allow ourselves to adapt so on the day we’re going to have to play well.”
