Harry Brook faces his baptism of fire: Morgan after the second ODI defeat against Australia

Harry Brook is facing a baptism of fire, quipped former England captain Eoin Morgan after his team's second consecutive ODI series defeat on Saturday, September 21. Brook, who is filling in for the injured Jos Buttler, lost his second consecutive ODI as Australia overran the side at Headingley. Chasing 271 points, England managed just 202 and trailed 0-2 in the five-match series.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Morgan said Brook's England had suffered two very big defeats and needed to come together as a unit. The legendary ODI World Cup winning captain said England had not yet found the type of cricket Brook had spoken about.

“It's a baptism of fire for Brook at the moment. It's a pretty heavy defeat against a very, very good team,” Morgan said of Harry Brook.

“We're talking about the impact of the experience and quality that Australia have added to their attack today and that was clearly visible in the chase for points. Scoring 270 on the really flat wicket should be relatively easy here. Run rate was never a problem but the constant wicket losses and not finding the mantra that Brook talked about,” Morgan concluded on Sky Sports.

ENG vs AUS, 2nd ODI highlights | Match report

England vs Australia, 2nd ODI: How it went

Australia secured a second major victory over England in their ODI series, winning by 68 runs behind Alex Carey's dashing 74 runs off 67 balls and an impressive bowling performance fuelled by the tourists' returning experienced pacers.

It was the 14th consecutive ODI win for the Australian world champions, who took a 2-0 lead in a five-match series and highlighted the gap that has emerged between the bitter rivals in the 50-over format.

But Australia, who won the first ODI by seven wickets on Thursday, struggled to get past 200 at Headingley after being sent in to bat, with captain Mitchell Marsh (60 off 59 balls) the only top-order batsman to reach a half-century.

Travis Head, who hit a career-best 154* two days ago, made 29 before taking the first of three wickets for fast bowler Brydon Carse (3-75). Steve Smith was out for 4, Marnus Labuschagne for 19 and Glenn Maxwell for 7 as Australia faltered.

However, Carey dominated the batting at the end, providing a late shine for Australia with three sixes and eight fours, helping the tourists reach a respectable 270 in 44.4 overs.

This was too much for England's fragile, newly formed batting line-up, which was missing regular captain Jos Buttler through injury and faced experienced attackers Mitchell Starc (3-50) and Josh Hazlewood (2-54), who sat out Nottingham through illness.

“I think the positive thing about Trent Bridge was the batting. Today it's probably down to the ball. They weren't as consistent as Australia would have been if they'd bowled first, but that's just experience, consistency and skill that comes from two different teams going through two different cycles,” Morgan analysed the game.

Starc removed Will Jacks (0) and stand-in captain Harry Brook (4) after Hazlewood had dismissed opener Phil Salt for 12. Liam Livingstone's first ball dismissal left England reeling at 65-5. Only wicketkeeper Jamie Smith offered real resistance, making 49 off 61 balls. Jacob Bethell (25), Carse (26) and Adil Rashid (27) were unable to build on their starts.

England were bowled out for 202 after 40.2 overs when Starc's raw pace struck No. 11 Olly Stone, who played a catch to Steve Smith, who retreated at slip. Australia, who took the World Cup title from England last year in 50 overs, can wrap up the series at the first attempt in the third ODI in Durham on Tuesday.