The English international summer, which contained two Ashes series for the ages, has ended in damp fashion, with a succession of ODIs played without any of England’s regulars in front of sparse crowds, and with rain the dominant factor.

Still, there were things to take from the series.

Rain is rubbish, but more can be done

Rain: 2, England: 1, Ireland: 0. Partly, this is just what happens if you insist on playing cricket right up until the cusp of October, when the rain closes in and the weak sun struggles to dry out the damp spots. But if The Hundred is here to stay, and if boards around the world continue to cram in as much cricket as possible, playing on until September ends is inevitable. And in both washouts, there was a sense that there were efforts not made. At Nottingham, the drizzle stopped two hours before play was eventually called off after several inspections, with squidgy sections in the bowlers’ run-ups to blame.

At Bristol, the deluge was more dramatic. One look was all it took for the game to be called off with more than six hours of potential playing time remaining. Just 31 overs had been played and just 30 minutes of wet weather was enough to do the damage. Overnight rain compounded the issue, and heavy winds made installing the covers tough. But why would an international ground not have a hover cover? And should the umpires have called the players off at the first drop of rain, knowing that what was to come would be torrential but passing?

England’s batting depth remains terrifying

The first team, as Zak Crawley correctly called them after the series, fly out tomorrow, but the second-stringers provided a fine imitation. This was an audition for what comes after the World Cup, with England’s top five all past 30 and most unlikely to make it to 2027, and England’s new breed, raised on a diet of Morgan-ball, passed with flying colours. Will Jacks was player of the series, but all of the top five impressed. How it shakes down when England come to pick their squads to tour West Indies will be fascinating.

Rehan Ahmed has got the goods

Despite Jos Buttler’s GOAT status, Jonny Bairstow’s blistering starts, and Joe Root’s ever-present whiring at No.3, it’s Adil Rashid that has surely been the most irreplaceable player of England’s current generation, and throughout it has been unclear how he will be succeeded. Just in time, Rehan Ahmed has come through to suggest he could be the answer. The teenager is jarringly at ease at the top level, slotting in with a shrug and a smile, taking a five-for on Test debut and now adding a significant ODI haul, four wickets ending the second game as a contest. Pedigree wrist-spinners are like gold dust. England might just have one.

Carse stands out among back-up quicks

For all England’s dominance, one of the residing images of this series will be George Scrimshaw’s troubled opening two overs, featuring six oversteps and a wide, before a maiden wicket was greeted sheepishly and with a conciliatory pat from umpire Rod Tucker. Matthew Potts was also expensive, with Brydon Carse the pick in England’s one bowling effort. England might move on from Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and David Willey after the World Cup, but with Sam Curran, Reece Topley and Gus Atkinson in the mix, and Jofra Archer hopeful to return, there is plenty of competition already. Carse might just have the heavy ball needed to thrive in the Plunkett role.

Washouts can’t hide Ireland’s issues

Ireland’s English summer – three ODIs v Bangladesh at Chelmsford, and three ODIs v England – began and ended with rain. The first confirmed they would have to go through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. In between came that qualifier, during which Ireland fell at the first hurdle. The last felt like a loss, according to Ireland captain Paul Stirling, and showed how far they have to climb. The margin in the second ODI was softened by some tail-end biffing after the result was decided. There are some green shoots. Harry Tector demonstrated his class with a brutal century during that Bangladesh series, while Lorcan Tucker also has huge potential. Josh Little is enduring something of a lull right now, but a left-armer who can hit 90mph is something any country would be keen on. But questions remain over how well Ireland’s domestic system can prepare its players for the top level, particularly with county cricket’s finishing school no longer an option.