England star Eoin Morgan concedes he’s unsure how his teammates will respond following Friday night’s gut-wrenching loss to Australia in the second one-day international at the Gabba.
Both teams head to Sydney on Saturday for Sunday’s third match of the five-game series at the SCG, giving England little chance to regroup following a James Faulkner-inspired one-wicket win in Brisbane.
Faulkner smashed 69 off 47 balls, including three fours off the first three deliveries of the final over, to steal victory when England must have thought they were set to break their duck against Australia this summer.
To compound matters the tourists have injury concerns over century-maker Morgan (calf) and tall bowler Boyd Rankin (hamstring), with both to be assessed before selectors name a team to try to save the series.
Shell-shocked skipper Alastair Cook admitted it had been an “emotional” dressing room following their latest setback and Morgan wasn’t sure how the team would bounce back in Sydney.
“It can work both ways,” the Irishman said.
“Guys probably shouldn’t be as harsh as they will be on themselves but naturally you will be.
“If you look through today’s game we’ve done a lot of things right. We took early wickets, second innings we continually built pressure, took two wickets in the powerplay, it’s just that final little bit.”
Matchwinner Faulkner warned there would be no relenting from the hosts as they aim to inflict more misery on the down-and-out tourists.
The 23-year-old said winning is a habit the team is trying their utmost to avoid breaking.
“We had a tough time in England, the way they touched us up over there, it hurt,” Faulkner said.
“We know the pain they’re feeling at the moment. We don’t feel sorry for them at all, it’s a matter of going out in our next game nice and fresh and really putting on a show again, a strong performance.”