Australia v England: Eoin Morgan says loss is not a setback

Eoin Morgan took over from Alastair Cook as England ODI captain in December

England captain Eoin Morgan says the three-wicket tri-series loss to Australia is not a setback in his team's World Cup preparations.

An 18th defeat in 25 one-dayers against Test-playing sides comes with only three games to play before England begin their World Cup campaign, against the same opponents on 14 February.

"One loss for us doesn't set us back over the next two months," Morgan told BBC Sport.

"We have to learn from it and move on."

England were reduced to 0-2 inside three balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with further slumps to 12-3 and 69-5 following.

Morgan, in his first match since replacing Alastair Cook as one-day captain, made 121 to carry his side to 234.

But a hundred from David Warner saw Australia to a bonus-point win, taking them to the top of the table in the tri-series that also includes India.

"Losing those early wickets set us back a long way, but we did well to put ourselves in the position that we did," said left-hander Morgan.

"I'm over the moon with the way I played today. I felt composed and balanced at the crease.

" I didn't stay right to the end and I might have got an extra few runs and taken us up to a competitive score. But I'm delighted with the way I performed."

Morgan also defended the decision to omit James Tredwell on a slow Sydney pitch, despite the fact that no other England bowler bettered the economy rate of fellow off-spinner Moeen Ali.

"One side here is very short, so for two off-spinners to bowl 20 overs, you'd have to bowl them each end, so that wasn't a viable option," added the 28-year-old.

"Playing James Tredwell would have been a huge risk."

Morgan also confirmed that he expects pace bowler James Anderson to be fit to play in England's next match, against India on Tuesday.