The polite way to describe this was as a wake-up call. But after watching his side lose their first World Cup warm-up game to Australia by 12 runs, and fast bowler Mark Wood leave the field with ankle trouble, England coach Trevor Bayliss might have reached for something pithier.
This was a match England privately felt they didn't really need after massaging their confidence during a high-scoring 4-0 demolition of Pakistan. Sure enough, with only five days to go before the start of the World Cup, the ambivalence spilled into their cricket.
A century for Steve Smith, in his first innings against the old enemy since Australia's sandpaper farce, was galling enough. But an England batting unit missing the injured Eoin Morgan and the rested Joe Root then made a mess of a chase of 298 which seemed under control after stand-in captain Jos Buttler butchered a 30-ball half-century.
England lost their first World Cup warm-up game to Australia by 12 runs on Saturday
Instead, one player after another passed up the chance to clinch victory as Australia's seamers held their nerve. On a surface less pure than those served up during the Pakistan series, Buttler lobbed tamely to midwicket, before James Vince caressed Jason Behrendorff straight to short third man to end a pleasant 64.
Even then, they reduced the equation to a more than manageable 59 needed off 57 with five wickets in hand, only for Moeen Ali to heave leg-spinner Adam Zampa to long-on. Chris Woakes did his best with a resourceful 40, but 15 off Marcus Stoinis's last over proved beyond the tail.
The real stuff begins on Thursday, when England take on South Africa at The Oval. But that did not excuse a curiously becalmed performance out of character with the gung-ho approach that has made them favourites to win the World Cup.
Australia's experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon was allowed to send down 30 dot balls in his 10-over allocation, and England did not hit a six until the 23rd over, which is about 20 overs longer than it usually takes them. Ben Stokes, meanwhile, responded to a promotion to No 4 with a scratchy 20 off 32 deliveries.
It was a deflating display, at precisely the moment England should be pumping up their tyres. Monday's second and final warm-up, against Afghanistan at The Oval, now assumes an unexpected importance.
There were other, more physical, concerns, which were already under way before the game began. Morgan was missing after suffering a minor finger fracture during training on Friday, though he remains on course for the South Africa game.
