England pacer Chris Woakes said his team is desperate to finish the international summer on a high by winning the ODI series decider against Australia in Manchester on Wednesday (September 16).
With the series placed 1-1, at stake is also England's five-year unbeaten run of winning series at home in the 50-over format. The three lions previously conceded a rubber on home soil back in September 2015 and a victory in the final one-dayer will allow them to extend the praiseworthy streak.
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"It's an incredible achievement and we want to keep that going," Woakes told reporters. "It shows how well we have played over the last four to five years."
"We want to win this specific series rather than maintain that record. Whenever you play Australia, you want to win and... it'll be good for us to finish the summer on a high."
Under Eoin Morgan, England's batting has always been raved about. But Woakes pointed out that the team now also boasts of quality bowlers, capable of winning games when the team's much-vaunted strength doesn't have the best of days.
Woakes was vindicated in the last match when he, Jofra Archer, Tom and Sam Curran combined to help England bounce back in the series with a 24-run win despite posting just 231/9 in the first half.
"Teams do realise that we can win from potentially any position and the game is not done until you get over the line," he said.
"Maybe a few years ago, we could win only from the bat from that situation but now we can do that with the ball as well."
A win in the last encounter would also cap off a summer where England players have had to live in strict bio-secure regulations amid COVID-19 pandemic and yet have been able to maintain high playing standards against different oppositions.
"The fact that we actually got some cricket this summer is a bonus," Woakes said. "For us as a team, to have performed the way we have... the team has pulled together and played good cricket."
(Inputs from Reuters)
