Their hopes of ending the tour on a high note were dashed as India won the final game by six wickets in Pune, and Connor acknowleged the whitewash was a "massive disappointment".

There were mitigating factors, with Charlotte Edwards unable to tour because she is still working on her fitness following knee surgery and a handful of others unavailable because of college exams.

And England were robbed of another leading performer when batsman Claire Taylor damaged her knee before the opening game and was unable to play any part.

"Missing the four or five key players was always going to be very tough, but we'll return to England, re-select the 18-strong training squad, and be a stronger unit.

"I'm very proud of all the players who have toured, several making their debuts for England.

"The spirit in the squad is sensational, even with results not going our way. It's the best I've ever known it, which says a lot about the strength of character and determination of all 14 players."

The big plus for England was the advance of openers Arran Thompson and Caroline Atkins.

Their work at the Loughborough and Durham University Centres of Cricket Excellence paid off with a series of sizeable stands, most notably the 200 they put on in the Test match at Lucknow, a women's world record for the first wicket.

"As a squad we've made some great strides, especially with the record-breaking partnership of Caroline and Arran, which has just got stronger and stronger during the tour,"
Connor added.

The England players will return to action in the new Elite Super Fours in May and June, designed to give them tougher competition ahead of a triangular one-day series against India and world champions New Zealand.