Shane Watson’s 143 and the all-rounder’s fourth-wicket partnership of 163 with Clarke (75) took Australia to 298, a total that might have been even greater but England all-rounder Ben Stokes’s ODI best five for 61 and debutant seamer Chris Jordan’s three for 51.

“For a lot of people, this series did not mean a lot,” Clarke said. “But to us it meant a great deal. Everyone in our dressing-room is excited, and so they should be — because we deserved this win,” the man-of-the-series added.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke poses with the winners trophy on Monday. Pic/Getty Images