Australia were overwhelming favourites at the start of the series, having won the past two Ashes series and as the current world champions in both T20 and ODI formats.
That only grew when they won the Test at Trent Bridge and opening T20 at Edgbaston, but England fought back to win the final two T20s and inflict a first series defeat on Australia since 2017.
They scraped over the line in the opening ODI to level the series, but Sunday’s slender defeat means they can only draw the series at best.
“I think we’ve exceeded the public’s expectations,” said Sciver-Brunt, who hit an unbeaten 111 in Sunday’s defeat.
“The way we were feeling as a group we were pretty confident in the way we’d been preparing and played in the last year or so. As a side testing ourselves against the best side in the world, in pressure moments, in sold-out crowds, in the biggest Ashes series we’ve had, is another thing.
“We knew if we stuck to our guns and played the way we wanted to play that we definitely had a chance, but I think this series, and the back and forth of both teams, has really exceeded the expectations of everyone.”