ENGLAND'S eight-wicket Champions Trophy semi-final trouncing by Pakistan taught us some lessons – not all for the first time.

Here, we pinpoint five of them.

HOME ADVANTAGE? DO ME A FAVOUR ...

England did not fuel the argument in their post-match remarks, but there was no disguising a Cardiff surface which played to the traditional strengths of Pakistan rather than the hosts.

Tournament rules continue to dictate matches be played on used pitches, which will dust up and stay low – even in England and Wales. There is no suggestion of any change of heart before the World Cup is back in this country in two years' time, so England will be well-advised to be ready to beat the best even if conditions are not always entirely to their liking.

WOAKES WAS A MISSING LINK – WITH THE BAT

When Chris Woakes' tournament ended after just two overs of the first match, because of a side strain, it seemed inevitable – especially after his quietly-impressive maiden Indian Premier League campaign – that England would miss him badly. That was not the case in Group A victories over Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia as Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett and others rose to the occasion with wickets when England needed them.

Woakes, however, is an all-rounder with nine first-class hundreds and a one-day international best of 95 not out on his CV. If he had been available at number eight against Pakistan, he might just have been able to help Ben Stokes push England up to a par total after all.

IRON MORGAN

Even after a chastening defeat which ended England's interest in a tournament for which they were many people's favourites, their captain made it clear he is not for turning.

Morgan ruled out the notion of complacency, did not go overboard in his reflections on a dry and used pitch which favoured the opposition – and spelled out that his team is still on course for the 2019 World Cup on home soil and will not be deflected by one significant disappointment.

PAKISTAN ARE ... UNPREDICTABLE

It was Mohammad Hafeez who revelled in Pakistan's habitual tag before their victory over Sri Lanka on Monday. As he prepared for the semi-final, coach Mickey Arthur appeared less enamoured with a description he seems happy to consign to history. His team duly went on to surprise everyone again, in a good way. Arthur and others may have to be ready to expect the unexpected again at The Oval on Sunday.

CARDIFF PACKED THEM IN AFTER ALL

The distress calls went out about a collective no-show in the crowd, after thousands of tickets initially bought by India supporters were potentially no longer of interest to the purchasers. It did not turn out that way, though – and as Pakistan marched to their gloriously implausible victory, the grandstand adulation was a sea of green-and-white flags and shirts. Quite a sight.