The series was locked at one win apiece after Australia prevailed in the opening match by 28 runs in Southampton on Wednesday, before England hit back to triumph by three wickets a couple of evenings later in Cardiff to set up the potentially engrossing climax.
But just as during last year's thrilling Ashes series, when any decisive result in the pivotal fourth Test was ruled out because of the Manchester weather, rain again had the final word.Â
"Yeah, disappointing," said Australia captain Mitch Marsh, who had recovered from illness and was ready to lead the side again.
"I thought it would have been nice to finish off with the deciding match today. Both teams played some really good cricket throughout, and so now we move on to the one-day series."
Marsh reckoned he had been pleased with what he had seen from some of his side's young new talents, including Jake Fraser-McGurk, who scored his maiden international half-century in Cardiff.
"It's great. We all know what an exciting talent he is," said Marsh at the post-match presentation, where England allrounder Liam Livingstone was named player of the series.
"We knew that young guys were gonna get opportunities throughout, and I thought we gave guys different roles throughout all five games we had, and it's been really pleasing."
Sunday's showdown was eventually abandoned in mid-afternoon, after rain had been falling since 7am local time - seven-and-a-half hours before the scheduled start time - and had still barely abated when umpires ruled the sodden outfield made play impossible.
Now the teams will move on to the five-match ODI series that begins on Thursday at Trent Bridge, with Marsh set to face a new opposing stand-in captain, Harry Brook, at Nottingham.
That's because England revealed their squad will again be without captain Jos Buttler, as he recovers from his calf injury, leaving them to turn to the exciting batter Brook to take the helm.
Their promising 20-year-old pacer Josh Hull is also out of the series with a quad injury, but in-form Livingstone, match-winner with bat and ball at Cardiff, has been drafted into the squad too.
England's ODI squad to face Australia:
Harry Brook (capt), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, John Turner.
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